Course Outline

PTY300 Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy

Course Coordinator:Cherie Wells (cwells@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Physiotherapy

2027Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course will equip you to assess and treat clients with cardiorespiratory disorders in safe, effective, and evidence-based manner within acute care, rehabilitation, and community contexts. You will learn how to comprehensively assess cardiorespiratory function and interpret clinical findings, including medical imaging, electrocardiograms, and other relevant tests. You will also be able to plan, justify and apply treatments to assist clients to improve or maintain their cardiorespiratory function, exercise tolerance and capacity, and optimise their quality of life.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning materials to prepare for workshops, simulations and assessment 3hrs Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Workshops will be scheduled to orientate the full student cohort to the course, enable guest presentations, briefing and support with regards to simulation and assessment items. In class tests and the written examination will also be scheduled in these times. 2hrs Week 1 6 times
Laboratory 1 – Lab classes will support students in applying learning to clinical contexts and practical skill development. These will take place within physiotherapy practice laboratories and hospital simulation wards (on campus or Sunshine Coast Health Institute). 4hrs Week 1 10 times
Laboratory 2 – Please see canvas for allocated ICU simulation and practical assessment times. These will be scheduled at SCHI simulation space. 4hrs Week 11 2 times

Course Topics

  • Evidence-based, collaborative and client-centred approach to cardiorespiratory physiotherapy across acute, rehabilitation and community settings
  • The clinical presentation and pathophysiology underlying co​​mmon cardiorespiratory disorders and the role of physiotherapy and other health professionals in assessment, diagnosis and treatment
  • The implications of cardiothoracic and abdominal surgery on cardiorespiratory function and the prevention/management of post-surgical complications with physiotherapy
  • Risk factors, prevention and management of cardiorespiratory disorders with a multidisciplinary team approach, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Assessment skills relevant to cardiorespiratory function, including vital signs, observation, palpation, auscultation, huff/cough, positioning/mobilisation, spirometry, peak flow
  • Interpretation of clinical findings, medical imaging, blood tests, sputum analyses, electrocardiograms, arterial blood gases, and implications for diagnosis and treatment
  • Treatment skills including breathing exercises, inspiratory muscle training, positioning, postural drainage, huff, assisted cough, percussions, vibrations, mobilisation, and use of positive expiratory pressure, positive end expiratory pressure and flutter devices/techniques
  • Introduction to cardiorespiratory physiotherapy assessment and treatment in intensive care, including care for mechanically ventilated clients and use of manual hyperinflation and suctioning techniques. 

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Physiotherapy Board of Australia
1 Assess and treat physiotherapy clients with cardiorespiratory disorders in a safe, effective, client-centred, and evidence-based manner Knowledgeable
Empowered
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 7.1
2 Apply effective clinical reasoning to plan and interpret client assessments, and to select, justify and modify treatments Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
Engaged
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5
3 Describe clinical features of common cardiorespiratory conditions and explain the role of different health professionals in diagnosis, assessment and treatment Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 5.1, 5.2
4 Demonstrate ethical, legal and professional behaviour in clinical contexts and work within personal and professional scope of practice Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 4.2, 4.5, 5.1
5 Effectively communicate and collaborate with different health professionals and complete clinical documentation in an accurate and efficient manner Empowered
Ethical
Engaged
1.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Physiotherapy Board of Australia
1.1 Plan and implement an efficient, effective, culturally responsive and client-centred physiotherapy assessment
1.2 Involve the client and relevant others in the planning and implementation of safe and effective physiotherapy using evidence-based practice to inform decision-making
1.3 Review the continuation of physiotherapy and facilitate the client’s optimal participation in their everyday life
1.4 Advocate for clients and their rights to health care
2.1 Comply with legal, professional, ethical and other relevant standards, codes and guidelines
2.2 Make and act on informed and appropriate decisions about acceptable professional and ethical behaviours
3.1 Use clear, accurate, sensitive and effective communication to support the development of trust and rapport in professional relationships with the client and relevant others
3.2 Record and effectively communicate physiotherapy assessment findings, outcomes and decisions
4.1 Assess their practice against relevant professional benchmarks and take action to continually improve their practice
4.2 Evaluate their learning needs, engage in relevant continuing professional development and recognise when to seek professional support, including peer review
4.3 Efficiently consume and effectively apply research and commit to practice informed by best available research evidence and new knowledge
4.4 Proactively apply principles of quality improvement and risk management to practice
4.5 Recognise situations that are outside their scope of expertise or competence and take appropriate and timely action
5.1 Engage in an inclusive, collaborative, consultative, culturally responsive and client-centred model of practice
5.2 Engage in safe, effective and collaborative interprofessional practice
7.1 Organise and prioritise their workload and resources to provide safe, effective and efficient physiotherapy autonomously and, where relevant, as a team member

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

PTY201 and SPX211 and enrolled in BH001

Co-requisites

PTY301 and PTY302

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Online quizzes will provide early feedback on understanding of cardiorespiratory assessment and treatment and guide revision and preparation for subsequent assessments. Formative feedback is also regularly given during practical laboratory sessions regarding clinical reasoning and practical skills. 

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1a Quiz/zes Individual 10%
30 minutes (2 X 15-minute quizzes)
Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 1b Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 30%
60 minutes (plus 10 minutes reading time)
Week 12 Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece Individual 40%
30 minutes (plus 10 minutes reading time)
Week 10 Exam Venue
All 3 Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece Individual 20%
20 minutes (plus 10 minutes reading time)
Exam Period In Class
All - Assessment Task 1a:Mini Quizzes
Goal:
To provide students with early, formative feedback to assist preparation for OSCEs and written exam.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format:
* 2 X quizzes conducted spanning cardiorespiratory assessment and treatment
* Each quiz will contribute 5% towards course grade.
* Online quiz with automatic marking will provide immediate feedback to assist preparation for subsequent assessments.
* Scheduled within workshops in weeks 4 and 9.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Apply understanding of course content to describe and plan safe and effective physiotherapy assessment and treatment of clients with cardiorespiratory presentations
1 2 3 4 5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 1b:Written Examination
Goal:
To assess students' knowledge, understanding and clinical reasoning regarding cardiorespiratory pathology and physiotherapy assessment and treatments in various clinical scenarios. Students will need to interpret clinical findings and tests and explain significance and implications, as well as plan and justify appropriate assessments and treatments.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Online written exam, with a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and extended answer questions in relation to case studies. Drawing together assessment and treatment understanding to provide physiotherapy plans for the short and long term. Scheduled within workshop in week 12.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Assess and treat physiotherapy clients with cardiorespiratory disorders in a safe, effective, client-centred and evidence based manner.
1
2
Apply effective clinical reasoning to plan and interpret client assessments, and to select, justify and modify treatments
2
3
Describe clinical features of common cardiorespiratory conditions and explain the role of different health professionals in diagnosis, assessment and treatment.
3
4
Effective communication and collaboration with different health professionals and completion of clinical documentation in an accurate and efficient manner
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:OSCE - Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
Goal:
To assess student skills and clinical reasoning associated with conducting cardiorespiratory physiotherapy assessments and treatments and documenting findings. To ascertain readiness to progress to clinical placement to assess and treat clients with cardiorespiratory physiotherapy issues in a safe and effective manner.
Product: Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
OSCE format consisting of 4X 10-minute stations including (1) Reading, (2) Case 1 (3) Case 2 and (4) Documentation & Reflection. Students will need to act as simulated clients for their peers and wear their clinical uniform to their exam. 

Please note: Students must achieve 50% in this assessment to pass the course and progress to clinical placement. One resit opportunity will be provided to students who fail this assessment on their first attempt with a maximum score of 50% being provided for this item.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Assess and treat physiotherapy clients with cardiorespiratory disorders in a safe, effective, client-centred, and evidence-based manner
1
2
Apply effective clinical reasoning to plan and interpret client assessments, and to select, justify and modify treatments
2
3
Describe clinical features of common cardiorespiratory conditions and explain the role of different health professionals in diagnosis, assessment and treatment
3
4
Demonstrate ethical, legal and professional behaviour in clinical contexts and work within personal and professional scope of practice
4
5
Effectively communicate and collaborate with different health professionals and complete clinical documentation in an accurate and efficient manner
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:OSCE - Intensive Care Physiotherapy
Goal:
To assess student capabilities to provide intensive care physiotherapy assessment and treatment to a mannequin and within a simulated ICU environment before applying skills in clinical practice. This will include assessment of competency to apply manual hyperinflation and perform suctioning techniques under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
Product: Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
OSCE format with 3 X 10-minute stations including reading time, practical skills & clinical reasoning, and written documentation.  

Competency in safely assessing and treating an ICU patient will be undertaken during the Exam period using mannikin within the ICU simulation suite at Sunshine Coast Health Institute. This will include practical skills related to manual hyperinflation and suctioning and associated clinical reasoning, and clinical documentation. 

Please note: Students must achieve 50% in this assessment to pass the course and progress to clinical placement. One resit opportunity will be provided to students who fail this assessment on their first attempt with a maximum score of 50% being provided for this item.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Assess and treat physiotherapy clients with cardiorespiratory disorders in a safe, effective, client-centred and evidence-based manner.
1
2
Apply effective clinical reasoning to plan and interpret client assessments, and to select, justify and modify treatments.
2
3
Demonstrate ethical, legal and professional behaviour in clinical contexts and work with personal and professional scope of practice.
4
4
Effective communication and collaboration with different health professionals and completion of clinical documentation in an accurate and efficient manner.
5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
Physiotherapy practice thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
All delivery modes Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Written Examination 1.1 Assessed
1.2 Assessed
1.3 Assessed
1.4 Assessed
2.1 Assessed
3.1 Assessed
3.2 Assessed
4.2 Assessed
4.3 Assessed
4.4 Assessed
4.5 Assessed
5.1 Assessed
5.2 Assessed
7.1 Assessed
Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece OSCE - Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy 1.1 Assessed
1.2 Assessed
1.3 Assessed
3.1 Assessed
3.2 Assessed
4.2 Assessed
4.3 Assessed
4.4 Assessed
4.5 Assessed
5.1 Assessed
5.2 Assessed
7.1 Assessed
OSCE - Intensive Care Physiotherapy 1.1 Assessed
1.2 Assessed
1.3 Assessed
2.1 Assessed
3.1 Assessed
3.2 Assessed
4.2 Assessed
4.3 Assessed
4.4 Assessed
4.5 Assessed
5.1 Assessed
5.2 Assessed
7.1 Assessed
Quiz/zes Mini Quizzes 1.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
1.2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
1.3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
2.1 Practiced, Assessed
2.2 Practiced, Assessed
3.1 Taught, Practiced
3.2 Taught, Practiced
4.3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
4.4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
4.5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
5.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
5.2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Period and Topic Activities
Module 1: Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Assessment
Workshops, Online Learning and Laboratory Sessions
Hospital Ward Simulations
Module 2: Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Treatment
Workshops, Online Learning and Laboratory Sessions
Hospital Ward Simulations
Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Class
Module 3: Intensive Care Physiotherapy
Workshops, Online Learning, Laboratory Sessions
ICU Clinical Simulations

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Eleanor Main,Linda Denehy 2016 Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy n/a Churchill Livingstone

Specific requirements

Students are expected to wear their physiotherapy clinical uniform to all clinical simulations, and attend compulsory classes, simulations and assessment at Sunshine Coast Health Institute. Students also need to bring their stethoscope to all cardiorespiratory physiotherapy classes, and clinical simulations (these are also required in subsequent physiotherapy clinical placements). The Littman Classic III stethoscope (or similar) is recommended.

Students must achieve at least 50% in practical OSCEs to pass the course and progress to clinical placement. This is a program and accreditation requirement to ensure client safety. Students who fail their first attempt will be provide with feedback and opportunity to re-sit the examination. A maximum score of 50% will be achieved in re-sit examinations. Feedback will be provided from the first attempt to inform preparation and revision for the second attempt.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and low to moderate levels of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks may include working in an Australian bush setting, working with people, working outside normal office hours for example. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Please note: Students will have one re-sit examination opportunity for OCSE assessment items 2 (Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy) and 3 (Intensive Care Physiotherapy). The re-sit opportunity will be offered if students fail their first attempt given the potentially stressful nature of an OSCE and practical assessment, and need for students to achieve at least 50% in these assessments to pass the course and progress to future clinical placements. If students pass their re-sit examinations, they will receive a maximum of 50% for the relevant assessment item. Students will receive feedback on their first attempt to guide revision and preparation for their re-sit examination.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

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General Enquiries

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