91611 Clinical Practicum (Therapy and Diagnosis)
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Pass fail, no marks
Requisite(s): 99646 Clinic Level 5 and Acupuncture Microsystems AND 99652 Chinese Herbal Formula 2
Description
This is a pre-clinical subject designed to prepare students to undertake the responsibilities of a practitioner while under clinical supervision in the UTS Chinese Medicine Clinic. All previous subject materials, in particular the different diagnostic systems, application of differentiation of disease (bianbing) and pattern (bianzheng), establishment of treatment principles, selection of acupuncture or herbal scripts with rationale and examination of treatment outcomes, are reviewed and assessed in workshops and a pre-clinical examination.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Integrate the previous years’ learning, and apply to critical reasoning of consultation, analysis, therapeutic decision making and clinical practice. |
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| 2. | Accurately diagnose clinical cases, and determine appropriate treatment using acupuncture and Chinese herbs, in line with skills and competencies for safe and ethical practice in the UTS student internship clinics. |
| 3. | Apply skillful, safe clinical competencies regarding diagnostic interviews and analysis, and treatment decisions regarding the appropriate application of internal and external therapeutic modalities, to your practice of integrated, quality treatments. |
| 4. | Advise your clients regarding healthy lifestyle, diet and exercise according to the relevant theories that underpin Chinese medical diagnosis and treatment based on pattern differentiation (bian bing bian zheng lun zhi). |
| 5. | Apply the relevant theories, methods and skills required to discern appropriate herbal modifications and effectively practice Chinese herbal medicine processing (paozhi). |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Apply: Demonstrate expertise in Chinese medicine’s classical and contemporary theories, research, and clinical health practices to support patient health and wellbeing. (1.1)
- Apply: Develop effective problem-focused assessment skills to differentiate diseases and patterns, and apply clinical reasoning to make diagnostic and therapeutic judgements. (2.1)
- Apply: Demonstrate the integration and application of professional health care knowledge and clinical skills to safely and ethically practise Chinese medicine. (3.1)
- Apply: Demonstrate the ability to make clinical judgements and decisions based on available evidence and practice. (4.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. Disciplinary knowledge
A review of key course material/content areas from the three previous years of study will be structured into a series of lectures. Case studies presented in lectures, real treatment exercises in clinical practice workshops and the pre-clinical examination will demonstrate the application of your knowledge to a clinical situation.
2. Research, Inquiry, and Critical thinking
Encompasses problem solving, critical thinking and analysis attributes and an understanding of the scientific method knowledge acquisition. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate an inquiry-based approach to gathering patient diagnostic data, and researching theory and knowledge about the meaning and application of those data, and then apply clinical reasoning to make diagnostic and therapeutic judgements.
3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility
Demonstrate the integration and application of professional health care knowledge and clinical skills and attitudes to safely and effectively practise Chinese medicine. Professional skills, including problem-focused physical examination, diagnostics, needling techniques will get practiced and evaluated in the practice workshops and in practical exams.
4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
Through real treatment in clinical workshops, you will make clinical judgements and decisions based on available evidence and practice using an informed, evidence-based approach, and demonstrate reflective practice by seeking and responding to feedback to improve practice and enhance professional competence.
5. Communication
In practice workshops, you will interact directly with real patients, obtain necessary case history data through consultation, explain and translate Chinese medicine theories and concepts into western biomedicine that are easily understood by patients. After the treatment is completed, you then need to seek feedback from the patient for case review and reflection. In addition, your communication with the group tutor is essential in this subject. Before applying any treatment, you have to clearly articulate case details, the clinical reasoning and treatment protocols with prescription for tutor’s approval.
Teaching and learning strategies
Review lectures on acupuncture and herbal Medicine
2.5 hpw X 11 weeks
Practical workshops
2.5 hpw X 11 weeks
A flipped learning approach will be applied in this subject so you will be asked to review relevent basic theories and prepare study notes before each week's lecture. The lecture topics begin with four diagnostics methods in week three, to Bianzheng in week four and then to single herbs, formulas, points and techniques in week five. Through reviewing and summarizing the key theories, you will have the opportunity to refresh and update your understanding of the knowledge, therefore you will be more prepared for the real case study in the class, be able to clarify your questions and identify the weakness where you need to focus your study. The mock exam in the first class and the practice exam in week eight with immediate answers and full explanation will assist you to develop your study plan step by step for the whole session.
Lectures will help you consolidate your learning from the previous 2.5 years through a series of cases, questions and exercises. Your participation in these class activities will allow you to identify the areas that you need to undertake further personal study to prepare for your assessments, including the pre-clinical examination.
UTSOnline will be a great help to facilitate your learning in this subject. On UTSOnline you will find relevant basic theories prepared for you to study before the lecture, to prepare you to participate fully in the lecture activities. Case study summaries and teaching materials will help you to review and deepen the understanding of what you learned in lecture.
Workshops will focus on the clinical applications of the four diagnostics methods, Bianzheng and single herbs, formulas, points and techniques. You are required to treat your peers with both acupuncture and Chinese herbs in a simulated role play clinical environment under supervision with tutors who will give you instant feedback on your clinical consultation, diagnosis, treatment prescription and practice skills. You will be required to show ongoing clinical practice competency by completing both original feedback given practical assessment and final assessment.
This subject includes experiential learning undertaken within a clinical learning environment. Students will have the opportunity to engage in both the practise of the techniques as well as receiving them in the patient practitioner role play scenario. This may involve exposure of appropriately draped body regions, physical practise including palpation, and interventions related to manual therapies such as massage, cupping, gua sha, and needling. Third party observation from class and teaching participants may occur. Teaching activities are designed carefully with consideration to clinical practice and procedure guidelines but there may remain possible risks and inconvenience. Consequently, consent is always required in these situations and sufficient detail must be provided outlining the benefits, purpose and potential risks of harm so that individuals may freely accept or decline participation. Consent is a continuous process and changes to expected participation during the course of the learning activity requires further consent. You must always consent anyone you are working with for these techniques and participation always remains voluntary. No student will ever be required to participate in these activities, and they will always be opt in participation, and there will be no effect on your relationship with staff, UTS or study opportunities. If you wish to withdraw from the learning activity once it has started, you can do so at any time without having to give a reason. Should participation become uncomfortable or the participant distressed while engage in learning activities, they continue to have the right to withdraw consent.
Content (topics)
This subject will review the three previous years of knowledge and skill development in the areas of herbal medicine, acupuncture and adjunct modalities.
The basic content areas will cover:
- Chinese Medicine diagnostics and its application
- Individual herbs and their general functions
- Herbal formulae and their clinical application
- Acupuncture points, their functions (including extra points and Microsystems) and clinical application
- Chinese Medicine manual techniques
- Western biomedical and Traditional Chinese Medicine disease pathology and aetiology
In addition students will need to integrate their knowledge into a clinical practice setting and demonstrate their application skills in the practice workshops.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: End of session pre-clinical exam (restricted open-book exam)
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 4.1 |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 2hours + 10 minutes reading time |
| Criteria: | Accuracy, relevance and comprehensiveness of the answers following the marking criteria available in UTSOnline You will be permitted to use self prepared study notes (five A4 pages/one sided) in the exam. The study notes will need to be prepared in advance of scheduled lectures and emailed to the subject coordinator. Your notes will be collected and returned to you in the exam. This is not a compulsory task, however late submissions will not be accepted. This may result in students having an incomplete set of notes for the exam. No additional material will be allowed in the exam. Case studies and short answers will be in the exam. |
Assessment task 2: Diagnosis and clinical practice competencies
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 2. Research, Inquiry, and Critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity 5. Communication
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1 |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Criteria: | In the workshops, you will be assessed on your 1. Application of an enquiry based approach to gathering patient diagnostic data 2. Differentiation diseases and patterns, and applying clinical reasoning to make diagnostic and therapeutic judgements 3. Clinical skills and attitudes to safely and effectively practise acupuncture and adjunct manual therapies |
Assessment task 3: Clinical cases analysis
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 4.1 |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Criteria: | For the 5 treatment records, you will be assessed on your 1. Application of an enquiry based approach to gathering patient diagnostic data 2. Effective problem-focused assessment skills to differentiate diseases and patterns, and applying clinical reasoning to make diagnostic and therapeutic judgements 3. Knowledge that is contextualised and applied in clinical practice, including an integrated biomedical and Chinese medical understanding of physiology and pathophysiology to inform treatment and health management strategies 4. Ability of reflective practice by seeking and responding to feedback to improve practice and enhance professional competence You will not get any mark if you do not complete and submit 5 records. |
Assessment task 4: Raw herbs processing (Paozhi)
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 4.1 |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | Cover all compulsory topics |
| Criteria: | For your participation in the herbal processing(paozhi) session, you will be assessed on your 1. Primary knowledge of classical and contemporary theories on paozhi, and their clinical application through practice |
Minimum requirements
To successfully complete this subject you must:
• Obtain a minimum of 60% for the pre-clinical examination
• Demonstrate competency in the application of treatment techniques to the satisfaction of the assessor
• Complete 5 cases treatment records
• Participate in the group preparation of raw herbs and complete the sheets required
* Obtain a minimum of 60% of the collective marks in the subject (overall).
References
- Bensky D and Barolet R, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, 1990 rev. ed., Eastland Press, Seattle, WA.
- Ou Ming, Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used Prescriptions in Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1989 Joint Publishing Co., Hong Kong.
- Ellis A, Wiseman N, and Boss K, Fundamentals of Chinese Acupuncture, 1988 Paradigm Publications, Brookline, MA.
- Qiu Maoliang (Man. ed.), Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1993 Churchill Livingstone, London.
- Keji Chen, Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Case Studies, 1994 Foreign languages press, New world press
- Concise Traditional Chinese Gynecology (1988) Jiangsu Science and Technology Publishing House China