Curriculum Information

This unit will focus on introducing the students to the assessment process across a range of physiotherapy specialist areas. Key fundamentals will be taught and will relate directly to the skills acquired during the ‘Developing Confidence in Physiotherapy practice’ Module that will run alongside the unit.

The unit complexity will evolve alongside the students’ foundational anatomy, physiology, pathoanatomical, pathophysiological knowledge levels as the course transitions from stage 4 to stage 6. There will be a clear transition from basic assessment and foundational skills to skills requiring greater understanding and complexity as they transition to level 6.

This will be achieved by offering the students immediate opportunity for meaningful context by creating novel and engaging learning opportunities, offering challenge and problem- based learning, experiential learning opportunities and interactive group-based tasks.

Each student will be given a selection of fictional patient cases that will be used to provide context to all taught material and acquired understanding. The complexity of the cases will evolve in accordance with the student stage of learning.

Subjective assessment
The student will gain informed consent, record personal patient details, Information relating to the present condition, history of present condition, past medical history, drug history and social history. They will be introduced to specialist flag screening questions (i.e Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue and Black) along with questions related to exploring the severity, irritability and nature of a given presenting complaint.

The role and impact of genomics within the patient lifecycle and specifically relating to the presentation and management will be discussed relating to taking a family history from a patient. Insight to the impact of genomics and present information related to genetic disorders and baseline screening considerations, will be offered. This will help students understand the impact upon healthcare for a range or both rare and common conditions.

The module will also welcome external speakers from Wales Gene Park and information from Genetic Alliances UK. The role of genomics within the patient lifecycle will be covered. The external speaker will offer critical insight to the impact of genomics and present information related to technological advancements with screening for genetic disorders and baseline screening considerations. This will help students understand the impact upon healthcare delivery strategies in the future along with the development of prognostic indictors for patients with ill health with a range or both rare and common conditions.

Objective assessments
Example content:
The students will be introduced to observational skills relating to e.g., general posture (static and dynamic/gait), normal variance, deformity, temperature, colour, oedema, cyanosis, asymmetry etc.

Physiological active and passive movements, general joint ranges of movement, muscle strength testing techniques will be taught. Examples would include use of the goniometer/inclinometer type devises (manual and electronic) for joint angle measurements, manual oxford grading and digital handheld dynamometers for measuring strength will be introduced.

Limb girth/limb length measurements with tape measures, assessment of dermatomes, myotomes and reflexes will be introduced. Neurodynamic testing for upper and lower limb.

Palpation of central and peripheral pulses.

Functional testing to include as an example – balance, gait, positional capacity testing.

Cardio-respiratory
Normal and altered breathing patterning. Lung function testing, auscultation technique, chest percussion skills, heart rate/pulse, blood pressure, breathing rate.

Record keeping
Introduction to the legal requirements and regulations relating to methods of recording assessment materials and content. Current legislation relating to record keeping requirements along-side most current protocols and guidelines will be discussed and covered.

Subjective/Objective/Assessment/Plan (SOAP) style notes format introduced along with standard abbreviations and nomenclature.