OPN365 Clinical Practice 9

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit continues the clinical optometric practice in the primary care area within the Optometry program. Through supervised clinical practice, students will refine specific problem-solving strategies in clinical practice, and further develop problem-specific examination techniques, reinforcing and refining clinical skills developed in the previous units. This unit continues the transfer of theoretical and practical skills to the clinical situation.  Students will take on a greater responsibility for clinical decision making and management, demonstrating early independence and responsibility in decision making and problem solving, beginning the transition to professional practice. Students will also participate in clinical placement activity off-campus in a range of practice environments to further develop their clinical management skills and exposure to business management in practices.

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. Design and implement problem-specific eye examinations in a technically competent manner in optometric practice;
2. Formulate and revise treatment and management plans for patients under your care;
3. Differentially diagnose visual disorders;
4. Give advice to patients in a caring and ethical manner;
5. Communicate efficiently with other health care professionals.

Content

Learning Approaches

Clinical practice in the primary care clinic under supervision of qualified and registered optometrists. Clinical practice will be supported by tutorials with emphasis placed on case management and problem solving, differential diagnoses, with reference to current and developing clinical management strategies. Off-campus clinical placements will allow exposure to an increased range of patient presentations, and exposure to clinical thinking and management of clinical practitioners in their practice environments.

You will further develop your evidence portfolio of clinical experiences through clinical practice in the on-campus clinical and through off-campus clinical placement activity. You will use your own self-reflection on your developing clinical experience gained in this unit, and the subsequent Semester 2 unit OPN465, to develop a continuing professional development plan in the unit OPN461.

Expected Clinical Conduct:
Clinical attendance is mandatory for all students and compulsory clinic sessions may be scheduled during the mid-year break (June-July) or the summer semester (November-January).

Clinical hours are documented to demonstrate fulfilment of Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand course accreditation requirements. Absence from a scheduled clinic session due to illness requires a medical certificate sighted by the unit coordinator and clinic coordinator. In addition, any clinical hours missed must be completed in the next scheduled semester break clinic (in addition to any mandatory clinics scheduled during the mid-year break or summer semester).

In some exceptional circumstances, prior approval may be obtained from the unit and course coordinator to alter a student's individual clinical timetable. However, supporting evidence is required to justify the need for any timetable alterations.

You are required to comply with the policies and procedures of the QUT Optometry Clinic at all times. Failure to comply with relevant policies and procedures may lead to exclusion from the QUT Health Clinics and inability to complete the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback will be provided during clinical practice sessions on your patient management and decision making, and this will be reinforced through case tutorials.

Assessment

Overview

Patient encounters are assessed in both formative and summative ways to provide feedback regarding development of clinical competency, and in a summative way toward the end of the unit.  Clinical skills competency assessments and summative assessment of patient consultations must each be passed to complete the unit, and repeat (supplementary) assessment will be undertaken until the required competency is demonstrated.

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Clinical Performance

Students will be assessed on each patient encounter seen during Primary Care Clinics in semester 1. Students will be graded on their ability to solve clinical problems through a problem oriented clinical routine, and the ability to communicate effectively with a patient. Greater emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic and management skills in this clinical practice unit, with the expectation that you will take on the primary role. You will also be assessed on your clinical skills during a practical examination held during the end of semester exam period, where you will be required to demonstrate three clinical skills specific to therapeutic practice.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Assessment: Clinical Practice Portfolio

You will be required to complete and maintain a portfolio of clinical experience that identifies the clinical work carried out during campus-based and external placement clinical activity. The portfolio will contain the following components: (i) a record your work completed during campus-based clinical activity, noting any activity relating to ocular therapeutic management; (ii) a record your work completed during external placement clinical activity, noting any activity relating to ocular therapeutic management; and (iii) submission of two short case-reports throughout the semester. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Assessment: Structured Oral Examination

The viva voce assessment will be undertaken during the end-of-semester examination period and will consist of 4 short (10 min each), consecutive case discussions with an examiner on a one-on-one basis. During this assessment you will be presented with a patient history and some key clinical findings from real world cases, and you will be asked to talk through your clinical thinking, decision making and patient management strategies. Your examiner may present more information as the case unfolds to allow you to adjust your working diagnosis and management strategies, as you would in practice. These cases will draw up clinical scenarios which you are most likely to encounter in a real-world setting, with a focus on well thought-out differentials and sound clinical decision making that centres on patient safety and wellbeing.

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

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 Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000) requires that students undergo a criminal history check and be issued with a blue card by the Commission prior to undertaking field experience in a school or centre, or undertaking activities in any unit which may involve contact with children. You will require a blue card for clinical placement/practicum in this unit. You should apply for a blue card at least 12 weeks before any clinical placement/practicum. Current blue card holders must register their card with QUT. More information is available online.

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.

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit will involve practice of clinical techniques on fellow students and on people from the general public who present as patients to the QUT Optometry Clinic and in external clinical placements. High standards of hygiene and safe practices are required. You are required to be proficient in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid. You will be informed of relevant Standard Operating Procedures of the School of Optometry as they pertain to this unit.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

1: Professional Responsibilities

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio, Structured Oral Examination
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    Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio
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    Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio, Structured Oral Examination

2: Communication and Patient History

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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3: Patient Examination

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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4: Diagnosis and Management

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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    Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio

5: Health Information Management

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   Relates to: Clinical Performance
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Course Learning Outcomes

OP85 Master of Optometry

1. Theoretical optometric knowledge, cognitive, clinical and technical skills and research methodology in vision science
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio, Structured Oral Examination
2. Apply critical thinking and researchable questions to generate solutions to complex conditions in clinical and research settings
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio, Structured Oral Examination
3. Apply clinical skills to conduct assessment, diagnose and implement a management plan safely and effectively
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio
4. Acquire and transfer complex knowledge to patients, professionals within multiple environments
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio
5. Practise independently and collaboratively as an ethical, socially responsible health care professional within legal and professional frameworks
   Relates to: Clinical Performance, Clinical Practice Portfolio