Aim and Content

Aim:

This topic aims to further develop knowledge and understanding for the complexity of causality connected to health and illness from both individual and societal perspectives.

Contents:

- The content of this course covers idea historic and cultural connections which are found in different health perspectives. Central definitions and themes that are analyzed more closely are for example health, illness and disease, quality of life, health promotion and health psychology, and prevention of illness and disease.

- This course is based on a bio-psycho-social classification system for symptoms and function. Awareness and training of clinical reasoning ability based on patient examples are used. Different approaches for clinical decision making, based upon knowledge based medicine in the diagnostic process, are enhanced.

- Teaching in communication theory contains facts and metaphors and practical exercises in order to become more aware of how this influences the process between therapist and patient

- The course also includes education in social security rules and regulations relevant for practice, including conditions for sickness benefits, and means of how the social security system can follow up sick-listed persons, and other topics relevant to have knowledge about for a primary care contact. An awareness of the manual therapists role and responsibility as primary contact person for patients with musculoskeletal diseases is underlined, including having knowledge of guidelines for making sickness certificates and referral to other health personnel when necessary.

Learning Outcomes

Expected learning outcomes

- After completion of the course the students should be able to define health as a concept and show insight into theories and actions regarding health promotion and prevention of illness and disease. They must be able to discuss concepts like health and illness related to musculoskeletal disorders, as well as cultural aspects related to body and work habits.

- The students shall develop ability to systematic use their knowledge from basic subjects in relation to the results from interview of patients and clinical findings. The students shall question, look for answers, critically evaluate their findings, apply it in practice and reassess, all central in knowledge based practice. This implies that the students use an approach where best evidence based clinical practice becomes the base for conclusion regarding patient treatment and priorities, and have knowledge about treatments that are effective, which are not and which that we do not have enough knowledge regarding the effect of.

- The students shall also be able to explain the diagnostic clinical reasoning process. They shall have knowledge of what should be included in such an evaluation analysis, and from this make a plan of action. The students must be able to differ between different subgroups that are suitable for different treatment approaches.

- The students must be aware of how clear communication influence the process between therapist, patient and co-workers, and be able to discuss conditions for multidisciplinary co-operation.

- The students shall have knowledge of social security rules and regulations, the conditions for sickness benefits, and means of how the social security system can follow up sick-listed persons. After graduation, the manual therapist shall be able to make sickness certificates and refer patients to other health personnel for further evaluations or treatment and be able to function as a primary care contact for patients with musculoskeletal complaints.

Course Unit Level

Master

Teaching Methods

Teaching is in form of lectures and group work.

There is about 30 hours with teaching distributed within four main topics:

- Theory of health and illness, including health promotion and prevention of disease and illness

- Clinical reasoning and evaluation theory; classification to subgroups

- Communication theory and practice

- Social security medicine, including content and demands of the primary contact role

Compulsory Requirements

The lectures are compulsory

Assessment methods

Written home exam for 5 days, usually in the third semester. The exam topics integrate the topics in health and illness, social medicine and social security rules and regulations, as well as classifications, clinical reasoning and evaluation.

The topic clinical reasoning and evaluation is also part of the final exam in manual therapy.

The supervision in clinical practice will all the time evaluate the students` ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and co-workers, and their ability to use different means of communication tools in the diagnostic process, both verbally and in writing. A written feedback to the student and the program directors is given every half year.

Internal and external examiner

Grading Scale

Grading scale A-F

Reading List

Literature that composes the basis for the students` learning activity will be suggested and these can be used in the exams.