UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

In this unit, students develop their knowledge, skills and professional attitudes to safely and competently administer, obtain, possess, prescribe, sell, supply or use schedule 2,3,4,or 8 medicines for the treatment of podiatric conditions. Student consolidate their understanding of clinical pharmacotherapeutics for podiatrists by building on foundational studies in physiology, immunology, microbiology and pharmacology to work with and treat individuals from various cultures that may differ to their own. Students will engage in work integrated learning to develop a comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic management and treatment of specific population groups including; the immunocompromised, paediatrics, patients with a range of comorbidities, patients at risk of adverse outcomes related to polypharmacy and those who have a musculoskeletal injury. Students also build on their previous knowledge of common medications used in podiatric practice, over-the-counter medications and alternative/complementary medicines. Students develop a deep application of their professional requirements to demonstrate and assure safe practice including referencing; relevant regulatory and ethical resources, antimicrobial stewardship, the Quality Use of Medicines (QUMs), the National Prescribing Standards (NPS), the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines(NSQHS), the Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate culturally safe and respectful practice relating to the use of medicines; (2) differentiate between and discuss the principles of drug abuse, underuse and misuse of medications and dependence

; (3) discuss therapeutic management of specific patient groups (ie: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, aged populations, people living with chronic or complex conditions), including use of ESM's; (4) interpret and evaluate patient's medical, medication, podiatric and social history to manage podiatric condition taking into consideration social determinants of health, and health literacy; (5) design therapeutic interventions in accordance with the principles of quality use of medicines and safe prescribing including ESM's; (6) research and evaluate scholarly and professional sources (e.g Australian Guidelines) to inform clinical decisions in accordance with evidence-based practice; and (7) demonstrate the safe administration of local anaesthetics in podiatric practice.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) assignment(s); (2) examination(s); (3) clinical assessment(s); and (4) professional behaviour assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the clinical assessment(s) and professional behaviour assessment components.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Matthew Keating and Dr Alex Park

Unit rules

Prerequisites

(a)
Enrolment in

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 91870, and (b)

successful completion of

PODI3114 Podiatric Biomechanics (ID 7820) PODI3116 Clinical Podiatric Practice 2 (ID 7822) PODI3117 Pharmacotherapeutics for Podiatrists 1 (ID 7823) PODI3118 Research and Evidence in Practice (ID 7840) PODI3000 Professionalism in Practice (ID 7835)

Co-requisites

PODI4221 Podiatric Populations 1 (ID 7836) PODI4222 Clinical Podiatric Practice 3 (ID 7837) PODI4224 Research Project Planning (ID 7839)

Contact hours

Approximately 6 hours per week, including lectures 2-3 hours per week and a combination of: seminars, clinical skills workshops, team and case based learning workshops, e-learning sessions, tutorials, and self-directed online learning.