module specification

This module is the first of two Physiotherapy Theory and Practice modules (PT4000 & PT4052) in the first year, and it is aimed at developing basic understanding of clinical science related to Physiotherapy practice. PT4000 module introduces students to core knowledge of long-term conditions, basic skills for assessing, treatment and overall management of individuals with long term conditions within a biopsychosocial framework.

The module will introduce students to common long-term conditions, their aetiology, presentations, impacts on individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds within the UK health and social care structure, and explore the framework for managing them. It will also develop core hands-on skills for assessing, treating and evaluating effective physiotherapy when working with individuals with long-term conditions affecting musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological problems within a multi-disciplinary context.

Furthermore, it will prepare students for evidence based clinical reasoning and problem solving through engagement with the theoretical evaluation of human movement and functioning with practical skills development. The module will consider contemporary healthcare frameworks, particularly the implementation of multi-disciplinary approaches, to facilitate and enable individuals for recovery, rehabilitation, reablement and self-management of individuals with long-term conditions.

The module will run alongside Applied Science 1 (PT4050), Applied Science 2 (PT4054), Evidence-based practice 1 (PT4053) to enable students integrate their underpinning scientific knowledge of human functioning for physiotherapy practice.

Co-requisites:
Applied Science 1 (PT4050) & Applied Science 2 (PT4054), a Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 2 (PT4052)
Available for Study Abroad? NO

Knowledge
• Contextual frameworks for healthcare: e.g., biopsychosocial, ICF, NHS and adult social care frameworks, national service framework for LTC, intermediate care and rehabilitation services, self-management, health informatics, digitally enhanced care
• Long term conditions including stroke / chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) / asthma / cystic fibrosis/ congenital heart disease/ long covid/ osteoarthritis (OA) / rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Use of pharmacology and medication for long term conditions including for: altered muscle tone, extrapyramidal symptoms, anxiety, depression, asthma, COPD, inflammation, and pain; impact of polypharmacy, medication review in the management of long-term conditions
• Self-management, health promotion and long-term management, progression of rehabilitation to include return to work / sport, promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour, health coaching etc.
• Evidence based physiotherapy management with emphasis on rehabilitation and exercise.
• Community Physiotherapy in the management of long-term conditions
• Mental health conditions such as dementia, anxiety, and depression

Skills 
• Clinical assessment skills including subjective & objective assessments – for a variety of long-term conditions affecting musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and neurological systems including:
• Basic neurological assessment 
• Functional assessment
• Cardiorespiratory assessment of chest
• Interpretation of CXR 
• Auscultation
• Musculoskeletal assessments in long term conditions affecting lower limb and gait 
• Clinical reasoning - procedural, interactive, collaborative, teaching, predictive, ethical reasoning) 
• Record keeping 
• Therapeutic handling and positioning  
• Exercise prescription and progression 
• Promoting self-management, health promotion, health coaching for common long term conditions
• Management of breathlessness (including positioning) & impaired gas exchange 
• Long term oxygen therapy
• Thermotherapy, Ultrasound, shockwave therapy

Attitudes
• Empathy, cultural competence, problem-solving for clinical reasoning
• Biopsychosocial approach (problem identification, plan, review)
• Person focused care and population awareness
• Societal and global health awareness
• Health promotion

The teaching methods will include didactic teaching, guided self-study, blended learning, small group case study exploration, practical skills development sessions, case-based teaching.

Practical teaching will be a significant part of this module and students will be able to work in groups and receive feedback from practical tutors to use to continue their skills development.

At the end of this module, students should:
1. Demonstrate use of the knowledge and understanding of human functioning to account for underlying impairments associated with common long-term conditions seen by Physiotherapists in a variety of clinical settings.
2. Demonstrate appropriate skills required for the assessment of individuals affected by long-term conditions using different sources of evidence including subjective and objective assessments to collate a problem list.
3. Use basic clinical reasoning skills to form appropriate person-centred treatment goals for individuals with common long-term conditions in a variety of clinical contexts using a biopsychosocial framework.
4. Select and deliver safe and effective evidence-based physiotherapy treatments as part of a multidisciplinary management plan to optimise outcomes for individuals with long term and related conditions, their changing problems, environment, psychosocial needs, family/carer and self-management.
5. Work safely and effectively within own scope of practice in collaboration with others and refer appropriately when necessary.
6. Analyse and justify the role for physiotherapy within a multidisciplinary approach to recovery, rehabilitation and reablement services for individuals with long term and related conditions seen by physiotherapists in different contexts.

Module reading list