ORIPRA2 Placement: Orthosis and Prosthesis of the Foot Course description

This course consists of a six-week period of supervised practical training in an orthopaedic technology enterprise. The practical training concentrates on users in need of foot orthoses and/or orthopaedic footwear, and the focus is on clinical work, communication with users and documenting the work in writing.

The student must have passed the first year of the programme or equivalent.

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 describe user participation and is familiar with the principles for applying a client-centred approach in the clinic
• can explain organisational and structural factors with a bearing on professional practice at the practical training enterprise
• can explain the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration’s (NAV) regulations for foot orthoses

Skills

The student

• can apply knowledge of prosthetics and orthotics in relation to relevant users, issues and tasks relating to footwear and foot orthoses
• can use clinical reasoning to integrate theory and practice
• can use discipline-specific methods, tools and equipment that are relevant to clinical practice in footwear and foot orthoses
• can apply the ICF framework and relevant outcome measures to measure the effect of disabilities caused by foot problems
• can define goals based on users’ wishes regarding and right to activity, work inclusion and social participation
• can provide guidance to users on the use and maintenance of footwear/foot orthoses
• can search for, discuss and apply specialist literature and research articles

General competence

The student

• can reflect on communication and contribute to interprofessional cooperation 
• can, with some supervision, keep records and relevant documents used in the practical training enterprise
• can demonstrate and reflect on professionalism in tasks performed at the practical training enterprise
• can acknowledge and reflect on users’ right to co-determination and autonomy
• can take responsibility and initiative, demonstrate cooperation skills, independence and an ability to adapt, and treat users, partners and others with empathy and respect
• can discuss different professional approaches in interdisciplinary teams in order to develop good practices
• can discuss and critically reflect on ethical dilemmas and work in accordance with professional ethical guidelines

The work and teaching methods include self-study, interprofessional cooperative learning and external practical training under supervision.

The following required coursework must be approved to pass practical training:

• minimum 90 % attendance during practical training.

• six reflection notes of 700-1,400 words. The reflection notes must be submitted to the programme on a weekly basis.

Assessment of practical training: The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course and the continuous assessment that students are subject to throughout the practical training period.

The student’s practical training can only be assessed if their attendance is sufficiently high (90%). For more information, see the general part of the programme description about practical training assessment.

Resit assessment: Students who fail a period of practical training normally have to retake the whole practical training period.

Not relevant.

Pass/Fail.

The midway and final assessments are carried out by the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

10 credits overlap with ORTOPRA2 Placement in Foot Orthotics.