Overview
The unit will be divided into two main components: pharmacotherapeutics and anaesthesia, specific to podiatry practice. In pharmacotherapeutics, you will gain an understanding of Schedule 2, 3, 4, and 8 medicines administered in common diseases seen in podiatry practice and learn further about their role in the management of disease. In anaesthesia, you will gain advanced knowledge of anaesthetics pertinent to podiatry practice. Topics covered will include pre-surgical history and physical assessment, informed consent, charting, maximum safe dose, and injection instrumentation. You will also begin to practice injection techniques in a simulated setting.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: PODI13007 Clinical Practice 2; BMSC13010 Pharmacology; MPAT12001 Medical Pathophysiology - and Corequisite: PODI13011 Clinical Practice 3
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Informal feedback from students.
Students appreciated the content expertise brought by the sessional lecturer.
It is recommended that educators who hold endorsement for scheduled medicines continue to be engaged to deliver the face-to-face teaching in this unit.
Feedback from Staff feedback.
The quality of lecture content is sound, but could be more concise.
It is recommended that the unit coordinator works with podiatrists with endorsement for scheduled medicines to streamline some of the more content-heavy lectures in this unit.
Feedback from Staff feedback.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodyamics teaching should be delivered across two-weeks instead of one week.
It is recommended that the Week 1 lecture (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) be delivered over two weeks to allow for sufficient time for the complexity of these topics to be effectively explained to, and understood by, students.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection.
The volume of work required for the 'on-campus activity' could be reduced.
It is recommended that the volume of work required for the 'on-campus activity' (medications review) be reduced to be more commensurate with the assessment weighting (20%).
- Summarise the major classes of therapeutic drugs that affect the primary systems of the body, including identifying the barriers to suitable pharmacotherapy, describing the mechanisms of drug action and the potential for drug-to-drug interactions
- Evaluate Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines prescribed and administered for the treatment of disease states encountered in the scope of podiatry practice
- Examine legal, ethical and professional responsibilities associated with prescription and administration of medications within podiatry
- Develop an anaesthetic plan based on a physical examination that includes: appropriate drug selection; correct dose calculation; appropriate method of drug administration; and other supportive care
- Integrate an evidence based approach in pharmacological practice within podiatry.
Per NPC1303
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 30% | |||||
| 2 - On-campus Activity - 20% | |||||
| 3 - In-class Test(s) - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
Information for Textbooks is not yet available.
The textbooks have not yet been finalised.IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom (both microphone and webcam capability)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
b.peterson@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
This weeks class will include a unit introduction and will cover Drugs and Poisons legislation relevant to prescribing podiatrists.
Chapter
Students are required to familiarise themselves with key resources located in the 'Important Resources' tab on moodle which will be used throughout the term, including:
eMIMS Elite (MIMS)
Australian Medicines Handbook
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Goods Administration
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class will include revision of pharmacodynamics.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class will include revision of pharmacokinetics.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class will explore the concept of polypharmacy and its complications.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks content will cover the pharmacology and safe use of local anaesthetics, and related emergency management of local anaesthesia-related complications.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks content will focus on antimycotic medicines and their application to podiatry practice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks content focuses on antibacterial medicines and their application to podiatry practice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class focuses on anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents and their relevance to podiatry practice.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class will focus on antihistamines and anti-anxiety medicines
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class will focus on the pharmacological management of specific rheumatic conditions
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
This weeks class will include a term-review session to assist students in their preparation for their in-class test.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
In-Class Test (50%) Wednesday at 9am.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) will include both written and practical stations of up to 15 minutes in length.
- The OSCE will last for up to 75 minutes.
- All assessments may be video and/or audio-recorded for moderation purposes.
- You are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes before the allocated start time for the OSCE and to wear full clinical uniform with enclosed shoes.
- The OSCE is a closed book assessment task.
More details and information regarding the OSCE will be made available at the start of term. Students who do not successfully pass their OSCE will have the opportunity for one 're-attempt' of this assessment item.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply for this assessment item.
AI Use Allowed:
Level 1: No AI. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core knowledge and skills.
Week 9 Wednesday (17 Sept 2025) 9:00 am AEST
The OSCE will be held during the usual Lecture/Tutorial time.
Week 11 Wednesday (1 Oct 2025)
Results will be released via Moodle.
Assessment criteria for OSCE: In order to be eligible to PASS the OSCE you must achieve a minimum overall grade of 50% for the OSCE.
If you do not meet the above criterion of a minimum overall grade of 50%, you may be eligible for a supplementary assessment providing you meet the requirements as stipulated in the CQUniversity HE Assessment Policy and Procedure and this will be determined by the Unit Coordinator.
If you are granted a supplementary assessment then the maximum grade that you can receive is a pass (P) irrespective of how well you performed in the supplementary exam.
- Summarise the major classes of therapeutic drugs that affect the primary systems of the body, including identifying the barriers to suitable pharmacotherapy, describing the mechanisms of drug action and the potential for drug-to-drug interactions
- Develop an anaesthetic plan based on a physical examination that includes: appropriate drug selection; correct dose calculation; appropriate method of drug administration; and other supportive care
2 On-campus Activity
Students will perform a systematic assessment of a patients medication with the aim of optimising quality use of medicines and minimising medications-related problems. Students will be required to complete two medications reviews to satisfy the requirements of the on-campus activity.
AI Use Allowed:
Level 1: No AI. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core knowledge and skills.
Week 10 Friday (26 Sept 2025) 11:59 pm AEST
Students must submit their medications reviews to Moodle by the due date.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025)
Results will be made available via Moodle.
Students' medications reviews will be marked according to a rubric designed specifically for this assessment item. The medications review proforma and marking rubric will be made available via Moodle. Each of the two medications reviews will have a weighting of 10% to contribute to a total weighting of 20% for the on-campus activity. A minimum mark or grade of 50% is applied to this assessment item.
- Evaluate Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines prescribed and administered for the treatment of disease states encountered in the scope of podiatry practice
- Examine legal, ethical and professional responsibilities associated with prescription and administration of medications within podiatry
- Integrate an evidence based approach in pharmacological practice within podiatry.
3 In-class Test(s)
Students will complete a 120 minute in-class test which will cover material delivered from Week 1 to 12. This is a closed-book assessment item.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply for this assessment item.
AI Use Allowed:
Level 1: No AI. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core knowledge and skills.
Exam Week Wednesday (22 Oct 2025) 9:00 am AEST
The test will occur in-class on Wednesday of Exam Week.
Results and feedback will be made available via Moodle
This In-Class Test will be marked according to a purpose made marking sheet designed specifically for this assessment item.
- Summarise the major classes of therapeutic drugs that affect the primary systems of the body, including identifying the barriers to suitable pharmacotherapy, describing the mechanisms of drug action and the potential for drug-to-drug interactions
- Evaluate Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines prescribed and administered for the treatment of disease states encountered in the scope of podiatry practice
- Examine legal, ethical and professional responsibilities associated with prescription and administration of medications within podiatry
- Develop an anaesthetic plan based on a physical examination that includes: appropriate drug selection; correct dose calculation; appropriate method of drug administration; and other supportive care
- Integrate an evidence based approach in pharmacological practice within podiatry.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
