MAMUS4200 Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Conditions - Part 2 Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian

This course builds on the course MAMUS4100. The course presents the knowledge basis for diagnostics, occurrence, risk factors, mechanisms, pathways and treatment for the most common forms of musculoskeletal  conditions (MSDs). It takes a more in-depth look at the existing knowledge-basis for examination, treatment and preventive measures for the most common MSDs. The topics will be presented from a life course perspective.

Project examination, consisting of a group assignment with up to 7 students, based on a case with a health claim in the media. The assignment will include the levels of the EBP model. The assignment is submitted as a written paper of 1500 words (+/- 10 prosent) according to further specified criteria.

Each group decides whether their assignment is to be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Resit exam: If the assignment is given the grade fail, the group can submit a revised version once.

If this attempt fails, the group is entitled to a third and final attempt. In a third attempt, the group must choose a new health claim and submit a new examination paper.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences and hold authorisation as a physiotherapist.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can assess knowledge on function, symptoms and health-related quality of life relating to the most common MSDs 

Skills

The student

• can apply and critically reflect on knowledge relating to diagnostics, occurrence, risk factors, mechanisms and pathways when working with patients with the most common MSDs
• can apply and critically reflect on the use of guidelines for treating the most common MSDs in clinical practice
• can analyse and discuss the results of assessments and examinations of children/adults/older adults with the most common MSDs

General competence

The student

• can implement up-to-date knowledge on diagnostics, examination and treatment/prevention of the most common MSDs
• can communicate up-to-date disciplinary knowledge to collaborative partners and the population at large

The course will use varied, student-active work methods.  Teaching is organised as two one-week sessions on campus.  Work methods comprise lectures, flipped classroom, seminars, presentations, group work and self-study. Presentations at the seminars are important to support the learning process.

The following must have been approved in order for a student to be permitted to take the examination:

• An oral presentation of the group assignment and give oral feedback to another group’s presentation (peer assessment/opponent), with a duration of up to 25 minutes.
• Individual oral presentation of an assignment and give feedback to a fellow student, with a duration of up to 15 minutes

The language is normally English.

This joint course is developed for all the Bachelor programmes at the Faculty of Health Sciences which are part of RETHOS (National guidelines for the Health and Social Studies), and is considered as an introductory course, preferably taken during the first part of the study programme.

In this course, starting with relatable examples, students will learn about asking critical questions about health claims and the sources of claims. This is followed up by focusing on the rationale for evidence-based practice (EBP) and its Core Competencies: Ask, Acquire, Appraise and Interpret, Apply, and Evaluate, and shared decision-making. The course provides a foundation for learning and applying more advanced and field-specific skills.

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

On successful completion of the course, the student has acquired the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can define what EBP is and recognizes the rationale for EBP and shared decision making
• knows the steps of EBP
• is familiar with the levels in the S-pyramid and acknowledges the difference between single studies and systematic reviews
• knows the characteristics of a scientific article, e.g. IMRAD
• can explain the purpose and characteristics of qualitative and quantitative studies and syntheses of studies, e.g. systematic reviews
• understands the principles for critical appraisal and knows how to use check lists for different study designs, clinical guidelines and professional procedures
• knows different types of categorical and continuous measures of association and effect, and key graphical presentations

Skills

The student

• can identify different types of professional/clinical questions, such as questions about treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, experiences and etiology
• can, for each type of clinical question, identify the preferred order of study designs
• can formulate searchable professional/clinical questions using e.g. PICO and variations of PICO
• can construct and carry out an appropriate and simple search strategy for professional/clinical questions from the top of the S-pyramid

General competencies

The student

• can critically assess health claims in the media
• can discuss the importance of user knowledge, clinical experience, and summarized research in clinical decision-making

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Compulsory attendance at the seminar on literature search (normally week 1 of the course).Compensatory work requirement if not present: The student must choose a different health claim, create a PICO based on this health claim, and describe a search for this PICO in Up-To-Date, Health Library according to guidelines or in Cochrane Library. The assignment is not academically assessed by the person with the course responsibility, but it will be registered (in Fagpersonweb) that the work requirement has been submitted and the student will find the registration in studentweb.
• Compulsory attendance at the Help-desk seminar (normally week 2 of the course) where students/exam groups ask questions and receive answers/guidance on the exam assignment. Compensatory work requirement if not present: In case of absence, students must submit 2 questions to the exam assignment and provide an academic justification for the questions of up to 100 words. The assignment is not academically assessed by the person with the course responsibility, but it will be registered (in Fagpersonweb) that the work requirement has been submitted and the student will find the registration in studentweb.

Pass/Fail. The same grade is given for all students in the group.