HLTH SC 1401 - Communication in Professional Practice

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2022

In this course, students will explore the importance of communication as a foundation to practice as a health professional. They will examine how personal and cultural factors, values and life experiences may influence professional communication as well as developing communication skills for culturally safe and reflective practice as a health professional. Students will study concepts of professionalism, ethics, inter-professional collaborative practice and digital literacy. This course will enable students to develop an understanding of teamwork involving individuals cooperating and collaborating towards a shared goal.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code HLTH SC 1401
    Course Communication in Professional Practice
    Coordinating Unit Sch of Allied Hlth Sci & Prac
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Restricted to B. Occupational Therapy (Hons), B. Physiotherapy (Hons) and B. Speech Pathology (Hons) students only
    Assessment Final Examination, assignment and continuous assessment tasks
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Charles Marley

    Course Coordinator: Dr Charles Marley
    Phone: +61 8 8313 6683
    Email: charles.marley@adelaide.edu.au
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building

    Tutor: Karen Adams-Leask
    Phone: +61 8 8313 3699
    Email: karen.adams-leask@adelaide.edu.au
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building

    Tutor: Sally Morris
    Phone: +61 8 8313 2315
    Email: sally.morris@adelaide.edu.au
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building

    Tutor: Trish Serocki
    Phone: +61 8 8313 3656
    Email: trish.serocki@adelaide.edu.au 
    Location Level 4, Engineering & Maths Sciences Building
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Timetable information can be found in the MyUni website for this course.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Reflect on, and appraise, personal communication practices as a health professional.
    2 Demonstrate and use a range of communication skills relevant for culturally safe health practice.
    3 Explain and practice concepts of professionalism, ethics, cultural safety, interprofessional collaborative practice, and digital health.
    4 Collaborate and cooperate as a member of a team to achieve shared goals.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    2, 3

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    2, 3

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    3

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    3

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Textbook: Core Interpersonal Skills for Health Professionals. 4th edition. By: Gjyn O'Toole. Publisher: Elsevier Australia Year: 2020.
    Online Learning
    All notes, resource manuals and papers for lectures, practicals, tutorial sessions and assessment tasks are available on MyUni as well as lists of suitable readings, online quizzes and links to external websites.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The approach to learning and teaching involves students’ progression through three modules across the course. Students will consider concepts of professional communication and the application of skills from a different lens; the clinician, the client and the health care team. Each module will commence with a specialised face-to-face seminar. Weekly learning pathways will include blended learning preparatory activities followed by a face-to-face workshop. The weekly workshop will involve learning activities designed to enable students to practice and reflect on the foundation communication skills.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Seminars: 3 x 2 hours = 6 hours
    Workshops: 12 x 2 hours = 24 hours
    Examination: 1 x 2 hours = 2 hours
    Preparation for Workshop Sessions: 2 hours per session = 24 hours
    Preparation for Assessment Tasks = 25 hours
    Weekly reading: 1 hour per week = 12 hours
    Online modules: 5 hours per week = 60 hours
    TOTAL = 153 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    Module One – The Clinician – Who am I and how do I communicate?
    • What is professional communication?
    • Forms of communication
    • The role of reflective practice in professional
    • A framework for professional Communication
    • Ethics, Professional Boundaries and Self-care
    • Keeping myself and my clients safe (including hand hygiene and basic infection control)
    • Introduction to cultural safety
    • First steps – Building the relationship, opening the clinical discussion
    • Gathering information

    Module Two – The Client – Who are my clients and how do we communicate?
    • Communication with clients across the lifespan
    • Health Literacy (including client use of the internet for health information)
    • Basis of the therapeutic relationship
    • Navigating complex communication settings
    • Getting the client perspective
    • Negotiating Goals
    • Providing closure

    Module Three – The Team - Who are my colleagues and how do we communicate in a team?
    • Who are the team
    • Interprofessional practice
    • Team dynamics
    • Situational awareness
    • Graded assertiveness and dealing with conflict
    • Digital communication in the healthcare system
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    The assessment for Communication in Professional Practice consists of:

    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome
    Examination Summative 30% 1, 2, 3, 4
    Continuous Assessment Summative 40% 1, 2, 3
    Assignment Summative 30% 1, 2, 3, 4
    Detailed information, including due dates, can be found in the MyUni wesbite for this course.
    Assessment Detail
    Examination (30%):
    Students will complete a multi station practical exam where they will be presented with professional communication scenarios and required to demonstrate and use a range of communication skills to effectively address the scenario. Feedback will be provided to each student upon request.

    Assignment (30%):
    Students will complete an analysis and self-reflection on their own communication skills with reference to frameworks taught in the course. Individual feedback will be provided to each student via MyUni.

    Continuous Assessment (40%):
    Students will complete three online quizzes. Feedback to students will be provided regularly throughout the semester following completion of the assessment task(s).
    Submission
    Detailed information on assessment task submission can be found in the MyUni website for this course.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.