UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit intends to foster the development of the studen as a clinician, a team member, an ethical professional, an advocate and an educator. Students develop their information literacy skills as applied to clinical podiatric medicine and the interactions with Geriatric and Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander People. Case-based learning built around the core conditions and presentations will illustrate clinically relevant aspects of bioscience and introduce principles of clinical reasoning. Communication skills and the clinical skills of history-taking and physical examination are introduced in a structured manner, allowing development of professional behaviours and understanding of the patient perspective and of patient-centred care to engage in collaborative diverse practice. The concepts of epidemiology, medical research and evidence-based practice are introduced along with the opportunity to discuss the main issues in social determinants of health, global health, mental health, healthcare systems and health economics relating to the following specific population groups; Geriatric Individuals and Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander People.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

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

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe the role of the podiatrist and other health care professionals in the provision of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and aged population groups; (2) discuss understanding of cultural safety, interprofessional relationships and the role of legislation, guidelines and standards in the Australian health care systems; (3) discuss health decision making and primary needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and aged population groups that may affect their podiatric management; (4) discuss the barriers and enablers of health literacy that can affect health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; (5) identify the literature regarding the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and aged population groups, including National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Group and Commonwealth Government Aged Care reforms legislation and regulatory frameworks; (6) discuss basic therapeutic management of patients, including the use of ESM, focussing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and ageing populations; and (7) discuss the barriers and enablers of health literacy that can affect health outcomes for ageing populations.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) assignment(s); (2) examination(s); (3) test(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 examination(s), test(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 Deb Schoen

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

PODI4222 Clinical Podiatric Practice 3 (ID 7837) PODI4223 Pharmacotherapeutics for Podiatrists 2 (ID 7838) PODI4224 Research Project Planning (ID 7839)

Contact hours

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