99667 Clinical Theory and Clinic Level 1
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 99665c Chinese Medicine Foundations 1 AND 99641c Point Location and Acupuncture Anatomy
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
Description
This subject comprises a series of lectures and workshops.
Lectures and in-class activities cover UTS and CMBA clinical protocols. Topics include treatment modality precautions and contraindications, introductory ethics and law, infection control procedures, and principles of communication. There are a series of workshops that introduce the learner to pulse diagnosis and the treatment modalities of tuina, cupping and gua sha. The workshops are an opportunity to demonstrate information from the lectures (ie practice-based learning).
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe, apply and reflect on knowledge of, and comply with, the fundamental legal responsibilities of registered Chinese medicine practitioners (including informed consent, duty of care to patients and colleagues, privacy, confidentiality, mandatory reporting and notification, reporting of adverse events, fitness to practice). |
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| 2. | Demonstrate professionalism and its related values and ethics when engaging with patients, fellow students, the practitioner in charge and clinic supervisors |
| 3. | Describe and apply current infection prevention and control guidelines and other guidelines issued as issued by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia relevant to the safe practice of acupuncture and manual therapies |
| 4. | Correctly describe and apply pulse palpation techniques to the radial artery to assess variations in the pulse parameters and note their relevance to the Chinese medicine health framework |
| 5. | Describe and apply knowledge of the legislative requirements regarding patient records and other practice documentation |
| 6. | Learn, communicate and work effectively as a member of a team |
| 7. | Access and apply evidence from research and clinical literature to inform and improve the safety and quality of clinical practises, including strategies to avoid adverse events and near misses. |
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)
- Analyse: Evaluate and critically assess research from clinical trials to cultivate an informed, evidence-based approach to clinical practice. (2.2)
- Synthesise: Consolidate scientific evidence for impact, informing further inquiry and transitioning outcomes to inform and support community and health care practice. (2.3)
- Apply: Demonstrate the integration and application of professional health care knowledge and clinical skills to safely and ethically practise Chinese medicine. (3.1)
- Analyse: Critically review relevant policy, legislation, and codes of conduct, and apply to professional practice to support and monitor quality health care and delivery. (3.2)
- Analyse: Investigate and evaluate clinical experience and research to reflect on and enhance your clinical practice. (4.2)
- Apply: Demonstrate a high level of writing, reading and speaking in English and an ability to engage constructively in conversation with health stakeholders, including community, other health disciplines, and policy makers. (5.1)
- Synthesise: Engage proactively with communication media, including social and online media platforms, to provide factual, evidence-based Chinese medicine disciplinary knowledge in support of quality health care delivery with patients, community, and other health disciplines. (5.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The subject aims and learning objectives contribute to the following graduate attributes:
1. Disciplinary Knowledge
The subject encourages an understanding of the safe and ethical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). They are introduced to the UTS guidelines and policies regarding practice as well as relevant legislation for the practice of CM.
2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking
The subject encourages an informed, evidence-based approach to health professional practice through database search tools to investigate current publications and recent research from clinical trials and reframe this against practice.
3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
The fundamental treatment techniques of tui na, cupping and gua sha and basic pulse diagnostic techniques are introduced. These techniques are applied in the class practicums against ethical and conduct guides as expected from health care practitioners in training.
4. Reflection, Innovation and Creativity
The subject encourages reflective learning processes and personal development activities as warranted for those interested in a career as a health professional where continuing professional development is of utmost importance for maintaining clinical currency. This includes creative practices producing rich pictures as artefacts to reflect on learning and engage knowledges.
5. Communication
The subject begins to develop communication skills relevant and appropriate for all inter-personal interactions in a health care environment. This includes communication skills relevant for assisting with understanding patients healthcare concerns, responding appropriately to these and when necessary, communication with colleagues (including CAM, Allied Health and medical professions). This includes verbal and non-verbal avenues of communication and different mediums.
Teaching and learning strategies
Lectures and workshop practicums
11 weeks of classes at four (4) hours per week in a combined or stand alone lecture, tutorial and/or workshop practicum format. There are a range of learning activities. These consist initially of lectures and group discussions, including preparation for an external site visit to a provider of Chinese medicine. In the workshop practicums, your are expected to collaboratively in small groups to apply basic tuina, cupping and gua sha treatment techniques to different body regions. You are also expected to demonstrate the clinical health and safety framework and be mindful of the obligations and conduct of a 'practitioner detailed in AHPRA: CMBA documentation during plinth room practicums.
Working collaboratively in small groups, you will also be required to attend a health worksite to observe the application of the CMBA guidelines and discuss these with a registered CM practitioner onsite. Feedback to the group collaborative processes and associated tasks will be facilitated by in-class activities and group discussions. For the workshops, in class feedback will be provided by the workshop facilitators on an ongoing basis.
Content (topics)
The information for the subject is presented via a series of lectures and tutorials which have practical focus. Topics covered include:
Lectures, in-class activities and workshop practicums (in class): law and ethics, contraindications and precautions for CM treatment, patient/practitioner interaction, policy and procedures, pulse diagnosis, collaboration (group dynamics), infection control and introductory microbiology. Skill based learning/demonstration in the plinth room will consist of pulse diagnosis (techniques, basic parameter assessment) and introductory treatment techniques (tuina, cupping and gua sha).
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Research Database Worksheet
| Intent: | The graduate attributes addressed by this assessment include: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 2. Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking 4. Reflection, Innovation and Creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.2, 4.2 and 5.3 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | Pro-forma question template three (3) pages in length |
| Criteria: |
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Assessment task 2: Captivate Quiz
| Intent: | The graduate attributes addressed by this assessment include: 1. Disciplinary knowledge |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 30 minutes for each quiz |
| Criteria: | Correct answer to short answer questions and analysis of case studies |
Assessment task 3: Reflective learning site visit report and presentation
| Intent: | The graduate attributes addressed by this assessment include: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.3 and 5.1 |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: |
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| Criteria: |
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Assessment task 4: Competency/Skill Development
| Intent: | The graduate attributes addressed by this assessment include: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research Inquiry and Critical thinking 3. Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3, 4 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
| Length: | Undertaken within the workshops as part of the particpant's ongoing learning. |
| Criteria: | Criteria include:
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Minimum requirements
The standard UTS Minimum Requirements apply, whereby you must:
- obtain a minimum of 50% in the overall subject mark,
- for assessment task 2, you must achieve a minimum of 40% in that assessment item to pass the subject.
W result means the result is pending until completion of outstanding assessment requirements or associated tasks.
X grade (X > 45) denotes unsatisfactory performance in a compulsory component of the subject. This grade is applied by the Results Ratification Committee in cases where the student has gained a mark of 45 or more but failed a subject overall. There is no formal upper limit for this grade.
Any special considerations can be organised through the Academic Liaison Officer (ALO).
Required texts
Walsh S and King E. Pulse Diagnosis: A Clinical Guide. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 2008. Whilst not necessary to complete this subject module, it will contribute to further explanations of the concepts discussed in class. It is a set text for the second year subject Chinese Diagnostic systems 1.
Recommended texts
All necessary learning material and subject notes will be provided to you in class and these will also be made available to you on UTSOnline.
Special/Closed Reserve
The following four books have been placed on special/closed reserve in the library for your needs:
- Complementary Medicine: Ethics and Law
- The Legal Aspects of Complementary Therapy Practice
- Acupuncture: efficacy, safety and practice
- Pulse Diagnosis: A Clinical Guide
References
- Walsh S (ed). Clinical Procedures and Safe Clinical Practice. Sydney; University of Technology, Sydney: 2016
- Walsh S and King E. Pulse Diagnosis: A Clinical Guide. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 2008.
Other resources
- Baldry PE. Acupuncture, trigger points and musculoskeletal pain. 2nd ed. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 1993
- Baldry P. Myofascial pain and fibromyalgia syndromes: A clinical guide to diagnosis and treatment. London; Churchill Livingstone: 2000
- British Medical Association. Acupuncture: efficacy, safety and practice. Amsterdam; Harwood Academic Publishers: 2000.
- Chirali I. Traditional Chinese medicine cupping therapy. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 1999.
- Diamond B. The legal aspects of complementary therapy practice. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 1998.
- Forrester K, Griffiths D. Essentials of law for health professionals. 2nd ed. Marrickville; Elsevier Mosby: 2005.
- Mayor D. Electroacupuncture: A practical manual and resource. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 2006.
- Neilson A. Gua Sha: a traditional technique for modern practice. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 1995.
- Purtilo R. Ethical dimensions in the health professions. 4th ed. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 2005.
- Walsh S and King E. Pulse Diagnosis: A Clinical Guide. Edinburgh; Churchill Livingstone: 2008.
- Weir M. Complementary medicine: ethics and law. Brisbane; Promethius Publications: 2000.
- Zhu H. Running a safe and successful acupuncture clinic. Victoria; Churchill Livingstone: 2006.