Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE OCT4021

 
TITLE Advanced Skills Laboratories - Upper Limb Rehabilitation and Arthritic Conditions

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Occupational Therapy

 
DESCRIPTION This laboratory gives the students the opportunity to handle clients in the presence of dedicated supervisors who would give feedback to the students during the entire process of OT evaluation and intervention.
Students will be exposed to a variety of conditions including upper extremity dysfunction, RA, OA and cardiac conditions. The biomechanical approach as the basic rehabilitative frame of reference will be used to guide treatment programmes. However this will be extended to incorporate an occupation based and client-centred approach. During this study-unit all aspects of the occupational therapy 's domain as articulated in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework will be addressed.

Study-unit Aims

Students are expected to become proficient in a number of treatment techniques and have the opportunity to practice clinical reasoning skills during hands on experiences in real clinical situations with clients and client groups.

Study-unit Aims:

1. To appreciate the ways physical disabilities such as hand injuries, RA, OA and cardiac conditions affect patient's occupational performance.
2. To guide and train students in developing and carrying out clinical assessments and re-assessments.
3. To learn how to observe and to utilize all information gathered from the assessment so as to formulate a realistic treatment programme selecting the most appropriate treatment strategies.
4. To develop skills and expertise in the use of therapeutic tools and mastery of treatment techniques whilst ensuring safety at all times.
6. To develop skills in basic splint fabrication.
7. To facilitate the development of a consultative and educational role with clients both on an individual basis as well as in groups (including the use of adaptive equipment).
8. To learn how to document appropriately and effectively.
9. To assist in the ongoing process of linking theory with hands-on-practical treatment.
10. To facilitate the students’ ability for clinical reasoning and reflection on their overall performance.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- acquire a basic and practical overview of upper extremity dysfunction, OA, RA and cardiac conditions;
- carry out patient evaluations using the bio-mechanical frame of reference extending it to an occupation based approach;
- synthesise patients' occupational profile and analyze their occupational performance;
- formulate appropriate treatment plans and treatment notes;
- understand the need for effective verbal and non-verbal communication throughout treatment sessions;
- draw on appropriate knowledge and skills in order to make professional judgements.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- evaluate client and analyze his/her own occupational performance;
- develop and document a thorough intervention plan and intervention review;
- acquire clinical hands-on skills with patients;
- acquire basic skills in fabricating hand splints;
- acquire skills in written and verbal feedback;
- increase confidence and communication skills with patients (and their carers) during treatment sessions;
- reflect on one's own practice and give feedback both on self and on peers.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

- Boscheinen-Morrin, J., & Conolly. W. B. (2001). The Hand: Fundamentals of therapy Butterworth-Heinemann, UK.,Medical.
- Burke, S.L., Higgins, J., McClinton, M.A., Saunders, R. & Valdata, L. (2005) Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: A Practical Guide (5th ed.). Churchill Livingston.
- Boyt, Schell BA & Schell, J.W.(2007) Clinical and Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy. US: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
- Creek, J. & Porter, A.L. (2007) (eds.) Contemporay issues in occupational therapy: reasoning and reflection. UK: Wiley.
- Crepeau, E.B., Cohn, E.S., & Barbara, A.(2009). Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy. Williams and Wilkins, Lipincott.
- Conolly, W. B., & Prosser, R. (2003). Rehabilitation of the hand and upper limb Butterworth-Heinemann, UK., Medical.
- Cooper, C. (2007). Fundamentals of hand therapy: Clinical reasoning and treatment guidelines for common diagnoses of the upper extremity. Mosby Elsevier.
- Fess, E. E., Philips, C. A., & Strickland, J. W. (2004). Hand splinting: Principles and methods. St.Louis, Mosby.
- Mackin, E. (Ed.) (2002) Rehabilitation of the hand and upper extremity. Volume 1. Mosby.
- Jacobs, M. L. A., & Austin.N. M. (2003). Splinting the hand and upper extremity: Principles and process. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Jones, D., & West. R. (1995) Cardiac Rehabilitation. London, BMJ Publishing Group.
- Pedretti, L.W., & Early. M.B. (Eds.) (2006) Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction. 5th Edition. USA., Mosby.
- Stanley,B.G., & Tribuzi. S.M. (1992) Concepts of Hand Rehabilitation. U.S F.F., Davis, Co.
- Skirven, T.M., Lee Osterman, A., Fedorczyk, J & Amadio, PC. (2011) Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity, 2-Volume Set (6th ed.) PA, Elsever, Mosby.
- Trombly, C.A., & Radomski, M.V. (Eds.)(2002) Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction (5th ed.). USA, Williams and Willkins.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE OCT3015 AND TAKE OCT3016 AND TAKE OCT3023 AND TAKE OCT3026 AND TAKE OCT3027 AND TAKE OCT3028 AND TAKE OCT3055

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Fieldwork SEM1 No 20%
Practical [See Add. Notes] SEM1 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

Study at UM

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit