Newcastle University

Aims

The key aim of this module, ‘Rehabilitation Science for Movement Disorders’ (MCR8012), is to advance and apply theoretical knowledge to enable students to participate in research and advance professional practice in rehabilitation of movement disorders. The content will focus primarily on Parkinson’s disease, however the module will also cover the management of Parkinson syndromes (e.g. PSP, CBD, MSA), Huntington’s Disease and ataxia.

Students will apply critical appraisal skills to explore the scientific literature for evidence to support rehabilitation of movement disorders, improve integration of knowledge with clinical experience and identify skills required for advanced clinical practice. Critical analysis will focus on rehabilitation theory; interventions; outcome measures; and the wider influence of socio-political and healthcare environment on rehabilitation outcomes.

Throughout this programme of study, students will identify developing areas for movement disorders research; understand confounding factors specific to movement disorders such as medication and placebo effect; understand issues relating to the use and quality of outcome measures in rehabilitation research (including limitations and an understanding of psychometric properties of outcome measures); the translation of research findings to clinical practice and the current context of clinical research in the UK in this field.

This module is designed for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and for others with a special interest in Rehabilitation of Movement Disorders (e.g. doctors, exercise specialists, nurses) who would like to apply research skills to rehabilitation of movement disorders and improve knowledge for translation of research in order to advance clinical practice.
Research is important to advance clinical practise and optimise healthcare. Research evidence, however, has to be synthesised into guidelines and implemented into daily practice for the benefits to be gained. Advanced clinical practice therefore requires knowledge and skills of the research process and its translation to healthcare. This module aims to develop these skills in order to: (1) equip the student with the ability to become involved or develop their own clinical research to contribute to the development of the evidence base and (2) advance clinical practice through the ability to find, synthesis and apply new knowledge gained through research.

This module will cover the concepts integral to an in depth understanding of the evidence base for rehabilitation in the management of movement disorders and the skills to contribute to development and evaluation of research. The content will focus primarily on Parkinson’s disease, however the module will also cover the management of Parkinson syndromes (e.g. PSP, CBD, MSA), Huntington’s Disease and ataxia. Students will explore the broader management of movement disorders including an understanding of the pathophysiology of movement disorders, evidence base for rehabilitation interventions, issues relating to optimal assessment including evaluating the properties of measurement instruments to allow accurate interpretation of research, research synthesis and guideline development and implementation and the current context of care and research including important policy developments.

Outline Of Syllabus

There are four main themes in this module:

1. Critical appraisal of research in rehabilitation of MD
2. Critique of outcome measures used in rehabilitation research in MD
3. Guideline development and implementation
4. The external environment and rehabilitation research

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module will be a mixture of seminars and distance learning delivered by teleconferencing and Blackboard VLE. In lectures, students will learn core skills to allow them to evaluate rehabilitation science for movement disorders. This includes the theory on which it is based; effective interventions; appropriate outcome measures and research outcomes within the current health climate.

Seminars are designed to support the distance learning by broadening these core skills and extending knowledge. Students will learn from a range of presentations that include (but are not limited to): underlying pathophysiology of disease, medication, effects of exercise, normal ageing, co-morbidity, interventions.

Students will be asked to submit 2 assignments for assessment and deliver a a presentation to a colleague at the second seminar.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Written and interpersonal communication will be assessed through assignments and presentation (written = 1, 2; interpersonal = 3). Oral skills will be assessed in the project presentation. Computer literacy and numeracy (knowledge of statistics) will be assessed in both assignments and presentation. Information literacy is required particularly for Assignment 2 and the presentation. Evidence of capacity for self-reflection, planning and organising, information literacy, problem solving, initiative and adaptability will be required for written assignments and the presentation. Translation of theory to practice will be particularly important to Assignment 2 and the presentation.