CQUniversity Unit Profile
PODI14009 Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine in Podiatry Practice
Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine in Podiatry Practice
All details in this unit profile for PODI14009 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will provide you with knowledge of the assessment and management of complex musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders common to the lower extremity. The foot in rheumatology and arthropathies will be covered in detail with respect to aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, investigation, and management. You will learn how these disorders can be managed by different interventions, including the use of pressure reducing devices and footwear intervention.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 4
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisite: PODI13011 Podiatry Clinical Practice 3. Co-requisite: PODI14008 Podiatry Clinical Practice 4.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2018

Rockhampton
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. On-campus Activity
Weighting: Pass/Fail
4. Examination
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student Feedback - Have Your Say

Feedback

The support during the duration of the course was at a high level. Any questions were answered either by the lecturer or the Coordinator. The weekly questions also were very helpful in gaining knowledge throughout the course.

Recommendation

It was crucial for the teaching staff to promote active student engagement by encouraging questioning early in the term and throughout the term to support the enhancement of learning in this advanced level unit. The use of question and answer forums (as a formative assessment) to engage students in the topic content will continue in future unit delivery.

Feedback from Student Feedback - Have Your Say

Feedback

Having the weekly questions as a percentage of the overall grade could be a useful improvement in future.

Recommendation

Such student feedback reinforces the positive impact the purposely designed weekly questions and follow up teacher feedback had on learning. The use of summative assessment in this way to drive further learning will be considered for future delivery.

Feedback from Staff feedback based on reflection

Feedback

Use of weekly question forums across the teaching term.

Recommendation

It seemed that students whom engaged in weekly forums achieved better grades than those who worked alone. Active forum participation also appeared to correlate with improving students writing and communication skills in the formal exam at the end of term.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Recognise and appraise the pathophysiology and clinical pattern of common arthropathies and musculoskeletal disorders specific to the lower extremity
  2. Evaluate conservative therapies applicable to the patient with rheumatic diseases and implement an appropriate patient-centred management plan.
  3. Develop patient education strategies for optimum management of common lower extremity musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders.
  4. Engage in active learning and apply an evidence based approach to rheumatology and musculoskeletal medicine in podiatry practice.

Per NPC1320

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Examination - 50%
4 - On-campus Activity - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Examination - 50%
4 - On-campus Activity - 0%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Supplementary

Rheumatology of the Lower Limbs in Clinical Practice

(2012)
Authors: Jose Antonio Pereira de Silva, Anthony D Woolf
Springer
USA
ISBN: 978-1-4471-2252-4
Binding: Other

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Malia Ho Unit Coordinator
m.ho@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1: Overview of Unit PODI14009. Review of Joints of the Lower Limb Begin Date: 05 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Functional assessments of hip, knee, ankle and foot joints

Foot Health Surveys

Chapter

Merriman's Assessment of the Lower Limb (2009)

Editor: Ben Yates

Churchill Livingstone

ISBN 978-0-7020-5247-7

Chapter 10

Management of Chronic Conditions in the Foot and Lower Leg

Editors: Keith Rome, Peter McNair

Churchill Livingstone

ISBN 978-0-7020-4769-5

Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2: Joint Inflammation in the Lower Limb Begin Date: 12 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Functional assessment of the lower limb in health and in disease
REMS - Regional Examination of Musculoskeletal System
GALS - Gait, Arms, Legs and Spine

Chapter

Neale's Disorders of the Foot (2010)
Authors: Paul Frowen, Maureen O'Donnell, Donald Lorimer, Gordon Burrow
Churchill Livingstone
Elsevier
ISBN 978-0-7020-3029-1
Chapter 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3: Diagnostic Tests in Rheumatology Begin Date: 19 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Diagnostic Tests Part 1
Haematology – blood tests Urine tests
Diagnostic Test Part 2
X-ray and Ultrasound

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4: Inflammatory Sero Positive Arthritides Begin Date: 26 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis,
Scleroderma,
Sjogren's Syndrome

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

SCF padding and strapping techniques, simple insoles for Rheumatological conditions

Week 5: Self Directed Learning for Online Quiz Begin Date: 02 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

There is no lecture, tutorial and practical session this week as it is a public holiday.

Students are expected to conduct self directed learning for the online quiz which is scheduled on Friday.

Topics covered for online quiz include:

- Assessment of Lower Limb

- Diagnostic Tests

- Sero-positive Arthritides - Pathology and Management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz date: 6th April 2018

Venue: Computer Lab

Time: TBA when term starts


Online Quiz Due: Week 5 Friday (6 Apr 2018) 11:00 am AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 09 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6: Inflammatory Sero Negative Arthritides Begin Date: 16 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Psoriatic Arthritis,

Reactive arthritis,

Ankylosing spondylitis,

Enteropathic arthritis

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Create accommodative device

Venue: Orthotic lab

Revise foot casting using POP, foam box and scanner – cast and pour

Week 7: Inflammatory Infectious and Crystal Induced Arthritides Begin Date: 23 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Septic arthritis,

Osteomyelitis,

Gout,

Pseudo-gout

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Make accommodative device – plaster

Week 8: Non-inflammatory Acute Arthritides & Non-inflammatory Chronic Arthritides Begin Date: 30 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Torn ligaments,

Avascular necrosis,

Charcot foot,

Osteoarthritis

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Make accommodative device – press and grind

Written Assessment Due (30%)


Written assessment Due: Week 8 Monday (30 Apr 2018) 12:00 pm AEST
Week 9: Self-directed Learning (ROK), Biomechanical Gait Analysis in Rheumatology (SYD) Begin Date: 07 May 2018

Module/Topic

(SYD) Gait analysis of abnormal gait seen in Rheumatological conditions -

Plantar Pressure Analysis and/or Video Gait Analysis


Chapter

(ROK) Whittle's Gait Analysis Chap 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

(SYD) Product presentation from OAPL

(practical will be held on Tuesday (8/05/2018) together with practical session of PODI14010 High Risk Foot)

Week 10: Biomechanical Gait Analysis in Rheumatology (ROK), Self-directed Learning (SYD) Begin Date: 14 May 2018

Module/Topic

(ROK) Gait analysis of abnormal gait seen in Rheumatological conditions -

Plantar Pressure Analysis and/or Video Gait Analysis

Chapter

(SYD)  Whittle's Gait Analysis Chap 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

(ROK) Product presentation from OAPL

(practical will be held on Tuesday (15/05/2018) together with practical session of PODI14010 High Risk Foot)

Week 11: Podiatric Conservative Interventions & Other Interventions Begin Date: 21 May 2018

Module/Topic

Podiatric Conservative interventions

Other Interventions:

Pharmacology in Rheumatoid Condition,

Injections (Cortisone/ simvisc),

Surgical interventions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Make accommodative device –grind, shape and finish up

Week 12: Review Week Begin Date: 28 May 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Attendance, Completion of Foot Health Surveys, and Make an Accommodative Device Due: Week 12 Monday (28 May 2018) 12:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 04 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Attendance: As per the University’s recommendation that "All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes,” students should also be aware that there is clear evidence to show that attendance rates are directly related to academic progress. It is therefore in your best interest and strongly recommended in the Bachelor of Podiatry Practice (Honours) course, that you attend all scheduled learning activities to support your learning. Attendance will be recorded.
Uniform: In all practical classes, students are required to wear the nominated uniform. Students must purchase their uniform from the bookshop. This uniform is separate to the mandatory clinical uniform. Please refer to the Podiatry Course Handbook for further details.

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

The Online Quiz in week 5 (26th March 2018) will consist of 20 multiple choice questions and cover content from Weeks 1 - 4.

The quiz will have a time limit of 60 minutes. The quiz will take place in a computer lab (or equivalent location) and is a closed book task. Access to books, notes, websites (other than the quiz) and the use of other electronic devices are prohibited during the quiz. 


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (6 Apr 2018) 11:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

The quiz will be marked electronically and the results will be available in Moodle.


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your ability to recognise the pathophysiology and clinical pattern of common arthropathies and musculoskeletal disorders specific to the lower limb.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Recognise and appraise the pathophysiology and clinical pattern of common arthropathies and musculoskeletal disorders specific to the lower extremity


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written assessment

Task Description

The written assesment will be in the form of an essay.

The topic will be specific to the field of rheumatology and podiatry practice and will be decided upon after discussion with the Unit Coordinator. You will be expected to review the relevant literature in order to establish the current knowledge of the particular topic/s .

The essay must be 1500 (+/- 10%) words (excluding any references, figures and tables) and should include:

• A cover page which includes assessment title, student’s name and number, Unit Coordinators name, course code and title, due date, word count.

• An introduction

• Argument/case supported with evidence from the literature.

• Conclusion


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (30 Apr 2018) 12:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Monday (14 May 2018)

Results will be available in Moodle.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

 You will need to demonstrate that you are able to

1. Appraise the pathophysiology and clinical pattern of the selected rheumatological condition specific to the lower extremity.

2. Apply theoretical knowledge of arthropathies and musculoskeletal dysfunction to the clinical setting.

3. Evaluate and recommend conservative therapies applicable to the rheumatic patient and implement an appropriate patient-centred management plan.

4. Interpret current trends according to evidence based research in the medical management of the selected rheumatological disorders.

5. Develop patient education strategies for optimum management of common lower extremity musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders.

6. Apply an evidence based approach to the management of the patient with a rheumatological and/or musculoskeletal disorder.



Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate conservative therapies applicable to the patient with rheumatic diseases and implement an appropriate patient-centred management plan.
  • Develop patient education strategies for optimum management of common lower extremity musculoskeletal and inflammatory disorders.
  • Engage in active learning and apply an evidence based approach to rheumatology and musculoskeletal medicine in podiatry practice.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence

3 On-campus Activity

Assessment Title
Attendance, Completion of Foot Health Surveys, and Make an Accommodative Device

Task Description

You will be expected to :

- Attend at least 85% of practicals and tutorials for this unit (an attendance sheet will be signed),

- Complete the Foot Function Index, Foot Impact Scale and Salford Arthritis Foot Evaluation Tool during clinic/ tutorial time and give a short presentation on the survey tools,

- Create an accommodative device for an individual with a Rheumatoid condition in the foot during practical time.

Further details regarding these tasks will be provided by the Unit Coordinator at the commencement of term.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (28 May 2018) 12:00 pm AEST

Surveys needs to be completed by Week 3, Accommodative device needs to be completed by Week 11, Attendance will be finalised at the conclusion of Week 12.


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Monday (4 June 2018)

At the completion of term


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

Attendance:

The activities covered in this unit cover professional podiatry skills, which are inherent requirements to meet the professional standards and are integral to your achievement of learning outcomes and assessment of this unit. At least 85% attendance at tutorials, practicals and/or workshops (where applicable) is required to satisfactorily PASS this unit. The Unit Coordinator will keep attendance records for all classes. If you are unable to attend campus, you must notify the Unit Coordinator (in writing/by email) as soon as possible, with a medical certificate or statutory declaration supporting any absence. Failure to maintain a satisfactory attendance record may seriously undermine your ability to complete this unit.

Foot Health Surveys:

You will be expected to demonstrate your ability to interact with participants to complete the foot health surveys competently and independently.

Accommodative Device:

You will be provided with a clinical case study and you will be expected to manufacture an appropriate accommodative device for the condition, using an evidence based approach.

Failure to complete all three tasks may result in a 'Fail' grade being awarded.


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline

Submission Instructions
Hard copies of the completed survey forms are to be handed in by Week 3. The completed accommodative devices are to be handed in by Week 11. Attendance will be finalised at the conclusion of Week 12.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Engage in active learning and apply an evidence based approach to rheumatology and musculoskeletal medicine in podiatry practice.


Graduate Attributes
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
50%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
50

Exam Conditions
Open Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?