PHYT 5214

The purpose of this course is for students to develop the competencies needed to provide safe, effective, evidence-based, patient-centered interventions for people with complex and chronic diseases based on three content themes: chronic pulmonary disease (chronic obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), chronic cardiac disease (coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, heart failure), and critical care and survivorship in adults and children. They will consider how multi-morbidity and frailty, in adults and children, impact patients’ quality of life, life goals and thus physiotherapy management. The role of an interprofessional team in care for people with complex and chronic diseases will be an overarching theme throughout the course. This course will address the role of rehabilitation programs in enhancing exercise capacity, self-management, and quality of life in people with chronic diseases. Students will learn to use communication for behavior change techniques as part of physiotherapy management. Students’ appreciation for the challenges of living a meaningful life with chronic disease will be a springboard to explore the role of disease prevention in physiotherapy practice and the health care system at large.