| CODE | PHT3015 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Oncology and Palliative Care | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physiotherapy | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit in Oncology and Palliative Care is presented so as to provide the student of physiotherapy with an opportunity to understand and experience the aetiology and pathophysiology of malignant disease, i.e. cancer. Physiotherapy offers supportive, restorative, preventative and palliative methods of treatment and rehabilitation to those persons’ suffering from physical limitations imposed by disease, injury or ageing processes. These principles apply to the management of patients with cancer through all care and rehabilitation programmes, from diagnosis to the end of life. Physiotherapy has a key role to play in the management of those patients suffering from cancer and cancer related limitations. The objectives of physiotherapy provision should extend from diagnosis to the end stage of disease, by minimising the effects that either the cancer or its treatment has on the patient, to improve the quality of life, to maximise the potential functional ability and independence, and promote relief of pain and symptom control. Study-unit Aims The main aim of the study-unit shall be that the student of physiotherapy integrates the knowledge acquired to understand the influence of cancer on a person's health to the application of physiotherapy in addressing such concerns, through literature review and classroom discussions with practical interaction. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Understand the physical and psychosocial impact of cancer on the patient and his family; • Describe the physiology of pain in cancer and its management; • Discuss the influence of exercise in cancer care; • Discuss the influences of and management towards certain special conditions e.g. lymphoedema; • Understand the role of palliative care; • Understand the role of the physiotherapist and other members of the health care team in a hospital and in the community. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Assess the physiotherapy needs of a cancer patient; • Plan a realistic programme of physiotherapy intervention; • Justify physiotherapy treatment. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Bancroft, M. I. (2003). Physiotherapy in cancer rehabilitation: A theoretical approach. Physiotherapy, 89(12), 729-733. Barraclough, J. (1999). Cancer and emotion : A practical guide to psycho-oncology (3rd ed.) John Wiley. Bennett, M. I., Johnson, M. I., Brown, S. R., Radford, H., Brown, J. M., & Searle, R. D. (2010). Feasibility study of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for cancer bone pain. The Journal of Pain, 11(4), 351-359. Bessant, N. (2001). Physiotherapists can help lymphoedema patients. Physiotherapy, 87(7), 389-389. Brooks, C. (1998). Radiation therapy: Guidelines for physiotherapists. Physiotherapy, 84(8), 387-395. Catt, S., Chalmers, A., & Fallowfield, L. (2008). Psychosocial and supportive-care needs in high-grade glioma. The Lancet Oncology, 9(9), 884-891. Gillham, L. (1995). Guidelines for managing cancer pain in adults. Physiotherapy, 81(9), 532-532. Guex, P., & Goodare, H. (1994). An introduction to psycho-oncology. London: Routledge. Hølen, J. C., Hjermstad, M. J., Loge, J. H., Fayers, P. M., Caraceni, A., De Conno, F., et al. (2006). Pain assessment tools: Is the content appropriate for use in palliative care? Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 32(6), 567-580. Laird, B. J. A., & Fallon, M. T. (2009). Palliative care in the elderly breast cancer patient. Clinical Oncology, 21(2), 131-139. Lohmann, C. (1996). Living with lymphoedema -- your guide to treatment. Physiotherapy, 82(10), 593-593. Martlew, B. (1996). What do you let the patient tell you? Physiotherapy, 82(10), 558-565. Moseley, A. M., Herbert, R. D., Maher, C. G., Sherrington, C., & Elkins, M. R. Reported quality of randomized controlled trials of physiotherapy interventions has improved over time. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, In Press, Corrected Proof. Nielsen, I., Gordon, S., & Selby, A. (2008). Breast cancer-related lymphoedema risk reduction advice: A challenge for health professionals. Cancer.Treatment Reviews, 34(7), 621-628. Oldervoll, L. M., Loge, J. H., Paltiel, H., Asp, M. B., Vidvei, U., Wiken, A. N., et al. (2006). The effect of a physical exercise program in palliative care: A phase II study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 31(5), 421-430. Paley, C. A., Johnson, M. I., & Bennett, M. I. Should physiotherapists use acupuncture for treating patients with cancer-induced bone pain? A discussion paper. Physiotherapy, In Press, Corrected Proof. Pease, N. J., Harris, R. J., & Finlay, I. G. (2004). Development and audit of a care pathway for the management of patients with suspected malignant spinal cord compression. Physiotherapy, 90(1), 27-34. Santos, M. C., Barros, L., & Carolino, E. (2010). Occupational stress and coping resources in physiotherapists: A survey of physiotherapists in three general hospitals. Physiotherapy, 96(4), 303-310. Sitzia, J., Sobrido, L., & Harlow, W. (2002). Manual lymphatic drainage compared with simple lymphatic drainage in the treatment of post-mastectomy lymphoedema: A pilot randomised trial. Physiotherapy, 88(2), 99-107. Todd, J., & Topping, A. (2005). A survey of written information on the use of post-operative exercises after breast cancer surgery. Physiotherapy, 91(2), 87-93. Todd, J. E. (1999). A study of lymphoedema patients over their first six months of treatment. Physiotherapy, 85(2), 65-76. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Jasmine Marie Gauci Anabel Sciriha Karl Spiteri |
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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. |
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