Course Title: Differential Diagnosis and Management for Chiropractors 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Differential Diagnosis and Management for Chiropractors 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

REHA2206

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2016

REHA2206

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Samantha Harman

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: samantha.harman@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses

Successful completion of:

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.


Course Description

This course will provide for you an opportunity to review the clinical presentation and management of common neuromuscular, neurological and skeletal disorders in the patient presenting to the chiropractic clinical setting. You will be expected to recognise, assess and manage the common neuromuscular, neurological and skeletal disorders, develop a working and differential diagnosis for these conditions and to be cognisant of the risk factors associated with these presentations.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes in the BP280 Bachelor Health Sciences, Bachelor of Applied Science (Chiropractic) program:

PLO 1: provide specialised health care within a patient-centred, evidence-based framework;
PLO 2: gather clinical information to make accurate differential diagnoses, assessment and management plans and carry out effective treatment;
PLO 3: practice as a competent health care professional in a safe, ethical and legally responsible manner;
PLO 4: demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in the provision of specialized health care;
PLO 5: communicate effectively in a range of forms (written, online, oral) and with diverse audiences (patients, community/public, agencies and health professionals);
PLO 6: work independently and in teams, specifically to lead and contribute to inter-professional care partnerships


On successful completion of this course you will be expected to:

  1. Integrate and demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy, pathophysiology and assessment of common neuromuscular and skeletal disorders that present in the chiropractic clinical setting.
  2. Identify management and treatment options available for neuromusculoskeletal presentations to the chiropractic clinic and differentiate between when to treat and when appropriate referral to another health professional is required.
  3. Develop differential diagnoses and a working diagnosis for patients presenting with these conditions.
  4. Identify and describe any relevant cautions and risk factors to the assessment and therapeutic procedures covered in the course and be able to adapt your management options according to a range of variables, including stage, pain levels and patient’s body type
  5. Have developed and demonstrate the use of an appropriate and professional communication ability relevant to chiropractic professional practice, which involves verbal and non-verbal communication skills and apply management options in a culturally and gender sensitive manner.


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will use a range of learning activities. Throughout the course you will work both individually and in groups to solve problems involving key concepts and clinical scenarios.

Blended learning principles are employed by providing lectorials and online presentations. These are supported by online lectures/PowerPoint presentations and study guides for prescribed texts, articles and reading lists. This approach will present you with the key concepts and theories relevant to the understanding of core content.

Self-directed learning is available via the online material at the myRMIT and Canvas sites and the recommended texts and articles. This will enable you to better develop your independent learning skills and support the material covered in the theoretical sessions.

Assessments are designed to require you to demonstrate a critical analysis of the core principles presented in the course. Assessment completed in the first half of the semester will provide feedback on your progress. Ongoing feedback will be provided from peers and staff.

You will undertake weekly online tutorials. In addition, you can expect to spend a minimum of seven hours per week in independent study.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.

A subject Library Guide is available at: http://rmit.libguides.com/chiropractic


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Intra-Semester Worksheets Assessment
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Intra-Semester Quizzes
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 3: Case-Based Assessment
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 4: Group Case-Based Assignment
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.