Evidence Based Practice (Honours) (8987.1)

Required texts

Prescribed Text

Hoffmann T, Bennett S, Del Mar C. Evidence-based practice across the health professions. 3rd ed. Sydney: Churchill-Livingstone; 2017. (hardcopy)

Recommended Texts

How to read a paper: series of 10 articles by Trish Greenhalgh. (free access to 1997 version)

Greenhalgh, T. 2014. How to read a paper, 5th Edition, Wiley, New York. (ebook).

Herbert, R, Jamtvedt, G, Birger Hagan, K., Mead, J. 2011 Practical Evidence-Based Physiotherapy, 2nd Edition, Elsevier, Edinburgh. (ebook).

Straus, SE, Scott Richardson, W, Glasziou, P, Brian Haynes, R. 2011 Evidence-based Medicine: How to practice and teach EBM, 4th Edition, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. (hardcopy).

Polgar, S and Thomas, SA. 2013 Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences, 6th Edition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Edinburgh. (ebook and hardcopy).

Learner engagement

Students are required to watch the online lecture and complete the weekly readings prior to attending the virtual tutorial. The weekly readings will be the topic of the canvas quizzes and will also be addressed in the written examination paper.

Participation requirements

Weekly meetings with your honours supervisor(s).

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Australian Physiotherapy Council professional learning outcomes for this Unit. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance is expected at all lectures, and 100% participation is required in all clinical placements, externships, tutorials, practicals and presentations. It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical by email. Consideration will be given for illness, however evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.

Required IT skills

The in class tests will be computer based. They will include both multiple choice and short answer questions, therefore, students will be required to type their answers. Students that are unable to type and complete the theory exam on a comupter will need to provide the unit conveor with a written Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) stating they require a hand written exam and ask that their RAP be enacted for this assessment piece.

Students that have english as a second language who are not familiar with the australian standard QWERTY keyboards may also ask to complete a hand written exam and these will be considered on a case by case basis. 

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Mandatory notification and physiotherapy student registration

Mandatory notification and physiotherapy student registration Mandatory Notifications to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia Pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, physiotherapy practitioners (registered physiotherapists) and education providers have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm.

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications in relation to students, if the provider reasonably believes:

1. a student enrolled with the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm;
2. a student for whom the provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification in relation to a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm. All concerns raised within the Discipline of Physiotherapy or by clinical supervisors or preceptors will be reviewed by the Head of Discipline and the Course Convener before any reporting action is taken. These professional obligations are taken seriously by staff and the University.

Students should be aware of their obligations under student registration. For further information, please refer to the following websites:

1. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority
2. Physiotherapy Board of Australia, Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Health and Safety

The following applies to all tutorial classes and practicums:

Pre-­existing conditions

Students are advised that the same warnings given to patients apply to students undertaking this course e.g. where a pre-existing condition(s) may be affected by any activity in the unit, the student is responsible to advise the unit co-ordinator or relevant teaching staff.

Manual handling

Physiotherapy work requires manual handling. You will be taught the correct way to perform manual handling and should use the principles at all times to prevent injury to yourself or your client. If you have any injury that may affect your capacity to perform manual handling skills you are required to notify the unit convener at the commencement of the semester. If you obtain a new injury during the course of the semester that may affect your capacity to perform manual handling skills you are required to notify the unit convener prior to the next practical class. In the event of an injury being sustained during the practice of skills in class you are required to notify the unit convener within 24 hours of the event and complete a UC incident form.

Respect and consent

Students will be required to play the part of a patient and a therapist during practical classes. This may involve partially disrobing as appropriate. All professional courtesy and respect is to be provided. This includes consent, draping, and safety.

The student who is role-playing the patient should be given the full respect and courtesy that a patient would. This includes giving warnings, obtaining informed consent before a manual technique is performed, covering body areas that do not need to be exposed for the practice of the technique, and not making any inappropriate verbal comments.

As a ‘patient', you will be expected to partially disrobe to allow the ‘therapist' to see relevant body regions. Please ensure you are wearing appropriate clothing for the level of dress required during practical classes. Appropriate clothing reinforces a professional environment that fosters mutual respect, confidence and learning.

Recording devices

Mobile phones must be switched to silent mode prior to the commencement of class. No cameras or videos are to be used in practical classes without the specific permission of other students and the unit convener. Any person taking a picture of another student without permission will be requested to leave the class and the images will be confiscated and deleted. They will also be brought to the Head of Discipline.

Counselling

In the course of studying physiotherapy students may be exposed to clinical cases and situations that may be stressful. At UC a free Counselling Service is available for all students. All sessions are confidential. The UC Counselling Service is located in the UC Health and Counselling Centre on Level B in Building 1. For more information please go to http://www.canberra.edu.au/health-counselling

• Semester 1, 2021, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (200504)
• Semester 1, 2020, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (197330)
• Physio Non Standard Period 2, 2019, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (191767)
• Trimester 2, 2018, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (180890)
• Flexible Period 6, 2017, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (164586)
• Flexible Period 6, 2016, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (155924)
• Semester 2, 2015, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (148629)