UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit intends to foster the development of the student 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 the rheumatological, chronic disease and the complex patient population groups. Case-based learning built around the core conditions and presentations will illustrate clinically relevant aspects of bioscience and introduce principles of clinical reasoning, this unit particularly provides students the theoretical and practical background in the diagnosis and management of orthopaedic, musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries. Communication skills and the clinical skills of history-taking and physical examinations are consolidated 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 consolidated 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; the rheumatological, chronic disease and the complex patient population groups Students also develop their ability to implement evidence-based rehabilitation strategies, goals and treatment plans for the physically active and sporting population groups.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) appraise the role of the podiatrist and other health care professionals in the provision of care for the rheumatological, chronic disease and the complex patient population groups; (2) critically appraise how cultural safety, interprofessional relationships, legislation, guidelines and standards impact on podiatric care for people living with chronic disease, rheumatological conditions, or complex presentations, in the Australian health systems; (3) evaluate health decision making and primary needs for people living with chronic disease, rheumatological conditions, or complex medical or surgical history, that may affect their podiatric management; (4) evaluate the barriers and enablers of health literacy that can affect health outcomes for people living with chronic disease, rheumatological conditions, and the complex presentation; (5) critically evaluate the literature regarding the health of people living with rheumatological, chronic disease, or complex medical or surgical history; (6) construct strategies, goals of care, and treatment plans for patients with chronic disease, rheumatological conditions, and complex presentations; and (7) evaluate therapeutic management of patients, including the use of ESM, focussing on chronic disease, rheumatological conditions, and the complex presentation.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) assignment(s); (2) examination(s); (3) in-semester 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), in-semester 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)

Catherine Crabb

Unit rules

Prerequisites

(a)
Enrolment in

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 91870, and (b)

successful completion of

PODI5331 Podiatric Populations 3.
PODI5332 Clinical Podiatric Practice 5.
PODI5333 Extended Placement 1.
PODI5334 Research Project 1

Co-requisites

PODI5336 Clinical Podiatric Practice 6 (ID 7852) PODI5337 Extended Placements 2 (ID 7853) PODI5338 Research Project 2 (ID 7854)

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.