Insight into complexity of medical conditions
Budding allied health professionals may gain insight into the complexity of patients’ medical conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease or osteoarthritis, through a new Queensland based project.
James Cook University (JCU) is seeking volunteers who have been diagnosed with a chronic disease to participate in the project to help the university’s exercise physiology students develop their clinical skills.
Conducting the project is Lisa Simmons, a clinical educator in clinical exercise physiology at JCU’s Institute of Sport and Exercise Science in Townsville.
It involves student led exercise screening and assessment, student led exercise prescription and programing, and educating students on the participants’ unique perspective about their chronic condition or disease management.
Ms Simmons claims it is not a research project, but more about proving hands on experience to students.
“This is about providing quality educational experiences for our students, as well as allowing us to develop meaningful assessment pieces,” she says.
“In opportunity one, the participants will gain information about their medical condition and provide participants with evidence based recommendations about how exercise can assist in the management of their medical conditions.
Anyone with the following chronic diseases is encouraged to participate:
- Metabolic conditions including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia or Metabolic Syndrome
- Cardiovascular disease including hypertension, coronary heart disease, post cardiac events or Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma or cystic fibrosis.
People with the following neurological and/or musculoskeletal impairments are also encouraged to participate:
- Neurological conditions including stroke, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
- Musculoskeletal conditions including back pain, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis or soft tissue injury.
There is no cost to participate in the project. For more details on the project, or to volunteer, call Lisa Simmons on (07) 4781 3200 or (07) 4781 3884, or email lisa.simmons2@jcu.edu.au
