ORIPRA3 Placement: Lower Limb- and Spinal Orthotics Course description

This course consists of a six-week period of supervised practical training in an orthopaedic technology enterprise. Lower limb and spinal orthoses are the main focus. This often means treating neurological conditions and injuries to the lower limbs and/or back. Good communication and cooperation with the user and interprofessional team are key to achieving good treatment results.

The student must have passed the second 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 how the organisation and structure of the practical training establishment influences professional practice
• can describe key topics, theories, issues, processes, tools and methods of relevance to lower limb and spinal orthoses
• can elaborate on how different types of orthoses form part of treatment, habilitation and rehabilitation

Skills

The student

• can use, give grounds for, carry out and reflect on clinical processes with an emphasis on lower limb and spinal orthoses
• can create models and orthoses and demonstrate how to use the orthosis
• can analyse and reflect on outcomes measures that are relevant to measure the effect of orthoses in relation to the ICF framework (body structures, function, activity and participation)
• can assess whether there is a need to refer clients to a partner
• can communicate and discuss professional opinions with users, next of kin and partners
• can discuss and reflect on the treatment of children in need of orthoses
• can perform quality control of orthopaedic appliances
• can explore professional issues in a systematic and reflective manner in his/her clinical practice

General competence

The student

• can work in accordance with applicable legislation, framework conditions and professional ethical guidelines
• can demonstrate and reflect on professionalism in all tasks at the practical training enterprise
• can act in manner that demonstrates empathy, respect and equality, to promote autonomy and co-determination
• can independently keep records and relevant documents used in the practical training enterprise
• can handle ethical dilemmas and work in accordance with professional ethical guidelines
• can contribute to work in and coordination of interprofessional teams
• can reflect on his/her own development, the user’s perspective and the perspectives of other healthcare professionals
• can identify his/her own knowledge needs, demonstrate insight in relation to his/her own learning needs and obtain new knowledge and skills

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

The following coursework requirements must be met before the student can take the exam:

• 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 ORTOPRA3 Placement in Lower Limb and Spinal Orthotic Practice.