Cardiorespiratory Clinical Practice

This subject is not offered in 2014.

TOTAL 180 hours

Students will need to allow for time for self-directed learning in preparation for clinical practice and tutorials

Year 1 subjects in DPT program

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will be conducted predominantly in the clinical setting and will provide students with an opportunity to develop their clinical skills and to integrate their theoretical knowledge in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy clinical practice. The emphasis in this subject is the application of clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice in the safe and effective assessment and management of individuals with cardiorespiratory conditions in the clinical setting. This will apply in, communication, therapeutic interventions, advocacy and education working as a health professional within a team, with individuals and their carers, respecting their rights and choices within the healthcare setting.
For further information on clinical placement location, see attached list ‘The University of Melbourne, Physiotherapy clinical placement locations’.

The curriculum for the DPT program has been designed around 8 Learning Outcomes under 3 elements.

Element 1: Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 1

• To integrate knowledge of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, common cardiorespiratory conditions and the framework for clinical reasoning to the assessment and management of individuals with cardiorespiratory conditions
• To implement the theoretical framework for clinical reasoning in cardiorespiratory assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, selecting appropriate assessments, problems, goals and approaches to treatment in the clinical setting.
• To safely and effectively execute and interpret cardiorespiratory assessment techniques, including observational movements analysis, objective measures of impairment, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
• To select, justify and demonstrate safe and effective physiotherapeutic interventions to address impairments and activity limitations in individuals with acute and chronic cardiorespiratory conditions.

Element 2: Research and Evidence

• Incorporate findings from high-quality clinical research and patient assessment findings when managing patients with cardiorespiratory conditions.
• Recommend the most effective cardiorespiratory physiotherapy treatment techniques using the principles of evidence-based practice.

Element 3: Healthcare context

• Demonstrate an understanding of the patients/clients rights and the cultural preferences that shape their healthcare preferences, incorporating them into practice within the institutional constraints.
• Identify the factors critical to effective time and resource management in the clinical setting and implement strategies addressing these factors within individual treatment sessions and caseload management.

Continuous clinical assessment (60%) during 5 week clinical placement

Clinical case presentation (10%) final week of the 5 week clinical

2-hour written Theory examination (30%) Exam week at end of semester

Students must receive a passing mark (≥50%) for both clinical (70%) and theoretical (30%) components of the assessment in order to pass the subject

Pryor P and Prasad S. Physiotherapy for Respiratory and Cardiac problems. 2008, Churchill Livingstone, 4th edition

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students will have the opportunity to develop the skills associated with:

• Identifying and addressing personal learning needs
• Recognizing the role of the physiotherapist within the multidisciplinary team and demonstrating the capacity to work effectively within the team in the clinical setting
• Communicating empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity and altruism
• Recognizing serious illness