Pain Science for Clinical Practice (12074)

Available teaching periods	Delivery mode	Location
View teaching periods	On-campus	Bruce, Canberra
0.125	3	Faculty Of Health
Sport & Exercise	Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit	Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)

Introduction

This unit provides an overview of historical and philosophical models of pain and its management methods over time. Participants will gain an understanding of pain experiences across the lifespan and biopsychosocial models underpinning community health behaviours/clinical presentations. Introductory skills in the understanding of contributing factors, behaviour change approaches, relationships between thoughts, beliefs and behaviours specific to health and how these inform clinical practice. Neuro-anatomical, physiological, pharmacological, and biochemical mechanisms involved in nociception, including peripheral and central sensitisation are discussed. Variances between acute and persistent pain presentation will be used to strengthen knowledge transfer to help make sense of pain. Holistic clinical assessment will be developed in a pain disorder context, further developing the use of validated screening tools and person-centred care.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Develop a preliminary understanding of pain science and the principles of pain management within a multidisciplinary framework;
2. Analyse pain mechanisms and apply current theories on clinical manifestations of pain relevant to practice;
3. Distinguish between acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain presentations and evaluate the implications for assessment and management of people in pain;
4. Evaluate the environmental, cultural and social implications associated with the lived experience and the management of musculoskeletal pain; and
5. Appraise intervention, assessment strategies, and outcome measures for pain management with evidence-based clinical reasoning.

Graduate attributes

1. 糖心logo官网 graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. 糖心logo官网 graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. 糖心logo官网 graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. 糖心logo官网 graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. 糖心logo官网 graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. 糖心logo官网 graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. 糖心logo官网 graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. 糖心logo官网 graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. 糖心logo官网 graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. 糖心logo官网 graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Prerequisites

9808 Regional Anatomy and Physiology

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.

Availability

Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.

Year	Location	Teaching period	Teaching start date	Delivery mode	Unit convener
2026	Bruce, Canberra	Semester 2	10 August 2026	On-campus	Mr Louis Robinson
2027	Bruce, Canberra	Semester 2	09 August 2027	On-campus	Mr Louis Robinson

Timetable

Not available

Resources

Required texts

Required text: None

Students will be provided with recommended supplementary readings (journal articles, professional guidelines, website links etc) that will assist in the completion of their assessment tasks, and their preparation clinical skills whilst on placement and following graduation.

Assessment requirements

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment items are individual tasks. No exceptions

Assessment items are moderated, as per University of Canberra assessment moderation policy.

Special assessment requirements

Students must attempt all assessments items and achieve an overall mark of greater than 50% to pass the unit.

Artificial Intelligence

Guided - Students will be guided in how GenAI must/may be used in completing the assessment as detailed in the unit outline and assessment instructions. More detailed information can be found at GenAI and Assessment at UC

Academic integrity

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

糖心logo官网 students have to complete the annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

糖心logo官网 uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the , , and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Student responsibility

Learner engagement

It is strongly encouraged that students engage with self directed learning activities, recommended readings and supplementary resources, and contribute actively to classroom and online discussions in this unit. The self directed learning discussions have been set up to provide students with the opportunity to explore and discuss core areas of clinical work with individuals living with pain.

Participation requirements

Students are encouraged to attend all scheduled workshops for this unit, including any additional workshop sessions within semester, as this unit contains key learning concepts for clinical practice.

Workshop sessions for this unit will not be recorded. Therefore, non-attendance to workshop sessions may increase student risk of poor assessment performance or failing the unit; and may disadvantage students in their future placement activities and performance.

Required IT skills

This unit requires students to engage in progressive online discussion forums with peers, as well as resourcing information online for assessments.

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

Use of own electronic device during workshops, or self-printing of electronically-provided material;
Costs for internet access if required outside the 糖心logo官网 campus

Work placement, internships or practicums

Subject to availability and operational requirements, students may have the opportunity to participate in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences as part of this unit. This may involve observing or engaging with authentic clinical activities related to pain management under appropraite supervision. Where available, this experience is designed to enhance students' understanding of contemporary pain management by providing oppotunity to connent theoretical concepts with clinical practice.

Additional information

Announcements made in lectures and workshops are deemed to be made to the whole group. Important information will also be made on Canvas via announcements.

糖心logo官网

糖心logo官网