| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Complex Spine and Pain Presentations |
| Unit ID: | NHPPS3115 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (NHPPS4001) OR (NHPPS4101 and NHPPS4817) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 061701 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
The unit will focus on the theoretical and biological principles that guide and justify the assessment of factors influencing pain. Further, the unit will focus on interventions which include working with people to manage the challenges associated with their pain. The unit emphasises integration of pain sciences into clinical reasoning models used to manage common clinical pain states, including spinal pain. Student will have the opportunity to further develop and refine their manual skills commonly used to manage spinal pain. This unit builds on the knowledge and skills acquired from previous learning and will draw together biopsychosocial knowledges and selected psychomotor skills to clinically reason through the complexity of the pain experience, from acute through to persistent pain scenarios. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | |  | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Build a deeper understanding of the complexity of the human experience of pain. |
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| K2. | Describe the biological, psychosocial, and pathophysiological factors that contribute to the pain experience. |
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| K3. | Explain the biopsychosocial model and its relevance to pain, individuals’ responses to pain, and the impact of pain on one’s life. |
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| K4. | Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge base around the key biological systems: the nervous, neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, and the motor systems, and their common links with pain. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Competently assess and measure the biological, physical, and psychosocial factors that contribute to pain, impairment, and disability using valid and reliable outcome measures. |
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| S2. | Safely and effectively select and apply manual skills as appropriate for managing pain scenarios. |
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| S3. | Demonstrate proficient clinical reasoning to select the appropriate components of pain science education, motivational interviewing and manual treatment strategies in the assessment and management of pain. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Develop an evidence-based management plan in collaboration with the patient, directed at modifying pain and encouraging helpful behaviours, promoting tissue healing, improving function, reducing disability, and facilitating recovery. |
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| A2. | Apply advanced effective communication skills, taking into consideration the various biopsychosocial components, in the management of any pain presentation. |
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| A3. | Communicate appropriate information to other health professionals involved in providing patient-centred care to optimize multidisciplinary management, including allied health, medical, psychological, and pharmacological approaches. |
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| A4. | Demonstrate the safe and effective selection and implementation of relevant manual handling approaches as appropriate for pain scenarios. |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include:
1. Defining pain - IASP
2. Biomedical and Biopsychosocial perspectives
3. Contemporary models of pain
4. Understanding and assessing nociceptive pain and nociplastic pain
5. Pain system sensitivity
6. Peripheral nerve anatomy
7. Neurodynamics and neuropathic pain
8. The neuroimmune system and stress-immune interactions
9. Psychosocial stress & pain
10. Assessing and managing people with persistent pain
11. Flag frameworks |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | N/A - Not Applicable | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K2, K3, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Educational resource on clinical scenario | Digital presentation | 15-25% | | 2. | K2, S1, A1, A2, A4 | Skills Mastery | Practical Assessment | 10-20% | | 3. | K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1, A2, A4 | Objective structured clinical examination | Practical examination | 20-40% | | 4. | K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, A1, A3 | Content from classroom and practical sessions | Written Final Examination | 35-55% |
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