Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The central role of exercise for both treatment and for secondary prevention in individuals with a range of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders is well accepted, but the provision of safe, effective and appropriate forms of exercise and activity in these conditions requires a sound knowledge base and relevant skills. These include an understanding of the particular assessment and screening procedures used for different disorders, the contraindications to specific forms of exercise, and the disorder-specific limitations and capacities. This unit builds on your previous knowledge of exercise prescription and cardiorespiratory and metabolic pathophysiology by systematically considering a range of disease-specific concepts and issues seen in professional practice.

Aims

This unit is designed to provide you with a knowledge base and skill set for clinical exercise prescription that enables you to undertake all aspects of screening, assessment, program design and prescription, exercise delivery, and monitoring and evaluation of exercise and activity, for the principal cardiorespiratory and metabolic disorders. It is also designed so that you can apply a systematic approach to each of these program components for individuals with cardiorespiratory or metabolic disorders you have not encountered previously. In conjunction with both internal and external practicum experience, the unit will prepare you to undertake all aspects of exercise programming for people with these conditions, using the best available evidence and professional guidelines, whether working alone or with other health professionals.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Screen the individual for health risk factors that may contraindicate specific forms of exercise or activity and assess an individual's exercise and movement capacity and any physiological limitations


2. Determine, in conjunction with the individual, realistic goals and expectations for their program of exercise and activity


3. Apply principles of exercise prescription and knowledge of the disorder to devise and deliver a program of exercise and activity to meet these goals


4. Monitor the program to ensure adherence, safety, and as a basis for modifying activities or goals as required


5. Evaluate the outcomes of the program using assessment methods appropriate for the condition and report these outcomes to referring medical or other health professionals


6. Demonstrate effective communication skills that engage the individual in their goal setting and articulate the activity prescribed to meet these goals

Content

Topics will include exercise prescription and programming for selected cardiorespiratory and metabolic diseases including:

Group 1 Hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, myocardial infarction, and chronic heart failure.
Group 2 Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis.
Group 3 Obesity, dyslipidaemias, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, and cancer.
Other conditions may be included where they illustrate important concepts.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Students will normally take this unit in conjunction with clinical placements as part of their practicum requirements. This unit will be delivered in an intensive mode, supported by flexible delivery methods, to accommodate varying practicum placement sites and schedules. It provides opportunities for learning activities that strengthen the connection between theory and practice, and prepare students for professional practice. The content will be divided into modules, each of which will be supported by seminars, readings, video lectures, critical analysis of web-based case presentations, and clinical lab activities. A problem-based learning approach will be used where appropriate, and students will be required to provide resources and case material to facilitate group-learning activities.

This unit will be delivered in an intensive mode during the first three weeks of semester. Students will be expected to make themselves available for class activities for up to five hours per day during this period.

Assessment

Summative assessment consists of 3 assessment items as outlined below.

Formative assessment and student support:

Each module will include structured tests for formative assessment, and feedback will be provided during clinical lab activities and tutorials on your performance and on any areas needing additional work. Students may repeat the clinical skills tests until a satisfactory level of performance is achieved.

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: Case study report

Students will prepare a report outlining all stages of an exercise intervention for a person with a relevant disease or functional limitation.

Length: 15 minutes

Due date: Confirmation of client details by Week 6. Final report by Week 13.
Relates to objectives: 1-6
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: You will be provided with the opportunity to practice and demonstrate your proficiency in a range of skills including screening, assessment and monitoring of clinical signs and symptoms, assessment of exercise capacity and exercise leadership and delivery.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4 and 6
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 3

Assessment name: Interview
Description: Interviewing skills and intervention planning - video role-play

You will work in pairs to develop a 15-minute role-play scenario related to a client with a chronic or complex condition.

Length: 15 minutes
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 6
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 3

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

In addition to the online materials, the following texts are recommended:

Prescribed text:

Ehrman J., Gordon P., Visich P.,& Ketevian, S. (2009). Clinical exercise physiology. (2nd ed.). Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Recommended texts:

American College of Sports Medicine. (2010). ACSM's Guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. (8th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Cameron M., Selig S., & Hemphill, D. Clinical exercise: A case-based approach. Chatswood: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

American College of Sports Medicine. (2010). ACSM's Resource manual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. (6th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 01-Feb-2013