CSB525 Podiatric Medicine and Clinical Practice

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Podiatric Medicine and Clinical Practice has been designed for students entering the graduate entry podiatry course who have completed a degree in a health-related field. The unit introduces the knowledge and clinical skills required for podiatry students who are commencing patient management. It is a 24 credit point unit equivalent to half of a full-time study workload.

You will acquire foundational knowledge and skills in the areas of biomedical science (microbiology and lower limb anatomy), podiatric clinical biomechanics and gait analysis, podiatric medicine, and podiatric clinical practice. The unit develops the application of your knowledge and skills in these areas to enable your transition into the third year of the Bachelor of Podiatry the following semester.

This unit is a work integrated learning (WIL) unit in which you will complete clinical placements in the QUT Podiatry Clinic.

Please note that mandatory elements may start in Orientation week.

This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply specialised knowledge of podiatric practice and employ clinical reasoning skills to case-based problem solving.
2. Safely conduct and interpret podiatric clinical assessments, including computerised gait analysis, in a culturally responsive and person-centred manner
3. Apply an evidence-based approach to plan assessments, and formulate and negotiate person-centred and culturally responsive treatment plans, considering the patient’s context and presenting complaint.
4. Apply safe work principles within relevant ethical, professional, and regulatory frameworks to select and implement appropriate management strategies for common foot pathologies, utilising manual clinical skills
5. Critique and modify clinical practice after engaging in self-evaluation, peer assisted learning and self-directed learning

Content

Learning Approaches

The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures and tutorials to teaching activities in the podiatry clinic. Teaching methods include lectures, discussion groups, self-directed learning, peer-assisted learning and clinical practice (Work Integrated Learning).

This unit is the first Work Integrated Learning unit experience in the Bachelor of Podiatry - Graduate Entry. To assist with the integration of the learning within the workplace environment, tutorials are based around clinical cases and followed by critical discussions of cases. The principles of quality, safety and professional practice in health care are explained in lectures, which present the new knowledge you need to begin to work within the podiatry context. Evidence-based practice is explained and applied to the selection of physical examination and treatment techniques that would be considered most appropriate for the management of the clinical cases presented. The transition to professional practice is facilitated through learning activities in the podiatry clinic and the podiatry skills laboratories. These sessions use simulations to assist you to acquire physical examination skills and clinical skills.

In consultation with staff, you will be required to undertake self-audit of performance against relevant professional capabilities for podiatrists, with a view to goal setting. This activity will guide your learning throughout the unit.

This unit requires compulsory attendance at on-campus clinical placement (45 hours), and any absence from clinical placements will reduce the opportunity for development of your professional capabilities. Where absence is due to special or unforeseeable circumstances independently supported by documentation (e.g. medical certificate), make-up clinical placement days will be facilitated wherever possible. In certain circumstances, involving a substantial number of missed clinical hours, you may be advised to seek withdrawal from the unit without academic penalty. Standard course progression cannot be guaranteed following withdrawal from a clinical placement unit (or fail grade).

You must comply with the policies and procedures of the clinic at all times, and you will be required to sign a declaration form stating that you have read and understood all policies and procedures. Failure to comply with relevant policies and procedures may lead to exclusion from the clinics and inability to complete the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You are provided with these formative assessment opportunities:

• Online case scenarios with feedback in class time
• Weekly verbal feedback from staff in practical and clinical sessions regarding the development of skills in preparation for your clinical skills exam
• Completion of weekly clinical self-evaluation forms
• Formative feedback provided in orthoses sessions on negative casting, positive casts and functional foot orthoses (including peer assessment and feedback)
• Online quizzes during the semester in preparation for the final theory exam

Assessment

Overview

The learning outcomes in this unit address elements of the professional capabilities for podiatrists. The Podiatry Board of Australia recognises these capabilities as the minimum standards for professional practice. As such, this unit contains specified threshold assessment conditions. You must receive a passing grade in each assessment item to receive a passing grade for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Workbook

You will be required to reflect on your experiences in clinical practice and engage in self-evaluation and self-directed learning to write a piece of reflective prose. Additionally, you will be required to demonstrate specific skills and submit items from your supervised practical sessions as evidence of your learning in this unit.

Feedback will be provided on workbook components throughout the semester. The applied anatomy task will be completed in class during week 7. The reflective task will be submitted in week 10. Feedback on other components of the workbook will be provided in class throughout the semester and submitted in week 13.

This workbook (with the exception of the applied anatomy task) is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold assessment conditions
If you do not achieve the pass level for each assessment task you are able to make one resubmission of this work for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission. Supplementary assessment is not permitted if you fail this unit because of a failure to meet the special conditions of assessment.

Assessment: Placement Performance and Logbook

As a student practitioner, you will be required to undertake the supervised assessment and treatment of patients in the clinical environment. You will be required to elicit a medical history, demonstrate competence in completing the patient's medical record, conduct relevant screening tests, apply podiatric theory to the diagnosis of the patient's foot condition(s), demonstrate competence in infection control procedures and clinical skills and provide patient care. In preparation for this assessment, you will engage in guided self-reflection on your clinical performance.

In your logbook you will document completion of the required number of clinical hours (45 hours) and this will be recorded in InPlace.

You will receive feedback on a formative assessment in week 8 to aid your preparation

Threshold Assessment:

In order to receive a grade for this assessment item, fulfilment of all clinical hours must be documented in your logbook and you must achieve the minimum pass level as indicated by a criterion-referenced assessment rubric mapped to AHPRA’s professional capabilities for podiatrists. You will be eligible for one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level. You are advised to seek feedback on your performance from the unit coordinator prior to the reattempt

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

A final examination will be used to assess theoretical knowledge about all aspects of the unit content. Question types will include multiple choice, short answer, and an essay response to a case study

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold assessment conditions
If you do not achieve the pass level for each assessment task you are able to make one resubmission of this work for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission. Supplementary assessment is not permitted if you fail this unit because of a failure to meet the special conditions of assessment.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

The Health Work Integrated Learning Support (WILS) team supports checking of mandatory documentation required for all student clinical placements.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in your exclusion from clinical activities. 

• Blue Card: A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website (https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/jobs-and-careers/get-work-experience/blue-cards).
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases Evidence:  It is a mandatory requirement for students to be vaccinated against a number of vaccine preventable diseases. For more information, please refer to QUT Health students placements website.  
• First Aid Certificate: You are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate before you begin your podiatry placement. There are a variety of First Aid certificate courses that are delivered by approved providers and duly authorised under the Ambulance Service Act 1991. 

All documentation needs to be provided to Work Integrated Learning Support (via InPlace) before the commencement of clinical placements.

Specific disclosure: Students will be required to disclose specific personal or medical information where: 

• A medical condition or medication use may increase the risk of injury to yourself or others (e.g. use of sedative medications or communicable disease). 
• Adjustments may be required for a disability, injury, health condition or pregnancy (e.g. access to facilities, manual tasks such as scalpel work or orthosis fabrication, working with chemicals). 
  

Please seek advice about disclosure from your Disability Advisor. Refer to Disability Services homepage for information. 

Further information regarding WIL policies and procedures, such as health and safety, risk management, confidentiality, intellectual property, disclosure and insurance, are available via the QUT Health student placements website. 

Blue Card

A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.

Costs

Students are required to meet the specific course costs associated with CS44 Bachelor of Podiatry, including clinic uniform and suitable footwear, podiatry instruments kit, immunisations and CPR/first aid certificate.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Burrow, J. G. et al. (2020) Neale’s disorders of the foot and ankle (9th Edition). J. Gordon Burrow et al. (eds.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Levine, D., Richards, J., and Whittle, M.W. (Eds.). (2012). Whittle's gait analysis. (5th Edition). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier.

Merriman, L.M. (2012). Assessment of the lower limb (3rd Edition). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit will involve lab-based and clinic-based sessions in on campus clinic facilities. You will be required to attend a mandatory induction session in Orientation week and/or at the commencement of the semester, where the safety precautions to be observed while working in the labs and clinic will be outlined. You are required to read the Clinic Policies and Procedures documents, and sign forms indicating that you have read and understood the material contained in these manuals. Please direct any questions regarding safe working procedures to the unit coordinator. Protective clothing outlined in the Policies and Procedures documentation must be worn at all times in the laboratories (e.g. face mask, goggles/face shield, lab coat) along with closed in footwear and the clinic uniform during all clinic sessions. This unit involves contact with patients, and risks associated with the clinical environment (e.g. scalpel injury and exposure to patients with a blood borne virus) are outlined in the policies and procedures manuals for podiatry students. You are expected to comply with these procedures and guidelines at all times.