Basic Medical Studies in the Rehabilitation Sector (5 ECTS)

Objective

The student
• is able to explain the medical basics and use them when evaluating and rehabilitating a client's functional capacity
• is able to describe the pathophysiology of illnesses, pain and healing processes.
• understands and recognises the key disorders in the respiratory system, blood circulatory system and musculoskeletal system as well as metabolic diseases and disorders in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in psychic processes and knows the rehabilitation and treatment principles related to them
• understands the connection between medical treatment and functional capacity and recognises the indications to use the most common medical treatments.

Content

• Medicine and drug treatment as part of rehabilitation, 0.5 credits
• Pathophysiology of illnesses, pain and healing processes, 1 credit
• Meaning of pain for someone undergoing rehabilitation, 0.5 credits
• Disorders of the respiratory system, blood circulatory system and musculoskeletal system, 0.5 credits
• Common musculoskeletal illnesses, 1 credit
• Common metabolic diseases, including diabetes, 0.5 credits
• Common diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems, 1 credit

Location and time

Date:

- 1st and 2nd period, autumn 2025.

Location:

- some lessons are held remote, some at Myllypuro campus
- for more detailed information, see your timetable.

Materials

The course often offers a choice of materials. The course does not require you to purchase the materials yourself. All material is available either online or in the library.

The most typical material options are:

- Skhole lectures (https://app.skhole.fi/fi-FI, you will receive further instructions for registration in the autumn before the start of the course)
- online courses and textbooks in Oppiportti (https://www.oppiportti.fi/, log in with your organisation account)
- Holmström P et al. 2020: Patofysiologia. Sanoma Pro oy (available in the library, albeit in limited numbers)
- scientific articles (available in Moodle)
- lecturers' own materials (available in Moodle).

Assignments and materials provided by the teacher are under Copyright Act (404/61) and the teacher has the copyright. Assignments and materials are not allowed to be used in any other way than in supporting your learning during this course. Public distribution of the materials is only allowed if the teacher grants the permit.

Teaching methods

The course includes group work, lessons, and individual work:

- reading circles (small groups) before the lectures (remote/on campus; the teacher is available during the meetings)
- lectures on study topics: pathophysiology, pain as an experience, internal medicine and pharmacology, musculoskeletal diseases, neurology (remote/on campus)
- independent work on medical terminology and small Moodle-exams
- orientation and reflection lessons which focus on chronic diseases and the role of medicine in rehabilitation (on campus).

Exam schedules

The course includes Moodle exams, which can be taken at your own pace within the time frame of the course. There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the exams.

Student workload

The course consists of 5 cr which means 135 hours of work:

- independent work (reading circles, terminology, exams) approx. 4 cr
- lessons (remote/on campus) approx. 1 cr
- compensation assignments due to absences from lessons have a workload corresponding to the length of the absence.

The topics of the course are not studied completely separately, but their workload can be roughly estimated as follows:

- medicine as part of rehabilitation 0,5 cr
- pathophysiology 1 cr
- pain as an experience 0,5 cr
- musculoskeletal disorders 1 cr
- internal medicine and pharmacology 1 cr
- neurology 1 cr.

Further information

Assignments:

- pre-class assignments related to the lectures (e.g. questions to the lecturers, written assignments) will be returned at the end of each reading circle meeting, i.e. one week before the lecture.
- for other assignments, the common deadline is 30.11.2025.

Absences:

- if you are absent from lessons, you will receive a compensation assignment
- lessons will not be recorder (neither remote nor on campus)
- lessons on campus cannot be attended remotely.

Use of artificial intelligence:

- AI may be used as an aid to understanding the topics and correcting and formatting of your own text and language
- AI may not be used to create full texts or to substitute your own thinking or literature search
- write very clearly how and where you have used AI: concealing the use of it is fraudulent
- read more about the use of AI in learning activities in Metropolia's own guidelines: https://oma.metropolia.fi/delegate/desktop_web_content_attachment/attachment/9890974.

Recognition and validation of prior learning or completing studies that belong to older curriculums:

- this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the teacher.

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE; the student
• can search for professional knowledge regarding a single issue
• is familiar with the professional knowledge base of the field
• distinguishes everyday information from research knowledge.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS; the student
• can act in individual professional situations according to instruction
• aims to act in a client-oriented way
• proves to have adequate skills to act in professional situations.

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT; the student
• is familiar with the ethical principles of the field
• can work as a member of a work group
• is able to evaluate personal strengths and development needs.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE; the student
• can search for knowledge from various sources and is familiar with the professional knowledge base of the field.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS; the student
• can work well in typical professional tasks and situations
• can work in a client-oriented way.

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT; the student
• can act in accordance with the ethical principles of the field
• can work in work groups and projects
• is able to develop oneself.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE; the student
• can search for knowledge from different sources and justifies their use
• utilises the professional knowledge base.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS; the student
• can apply professional skills in professional situations and acts responsibly
• can act in a client-oriented way
• is capable of solving professional tasks and problems.

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT; the student
• justifies professional activities based on the ethical principles of the field
• can work in work groups and projects and shares competence
• is able to develop oneself.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

PASS: Same as satisfactory (see above)

FAIL:
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE BASE; the student
• uses professional knowledge base of the field one-sidedly and is not familiar enough with the sources of the field.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ACTIONS; the student
• does not have adequate professional knowledge or skills
• does not act according to educational objectives or instructions.

ETHICS, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT; the student
• does not consider professional safety or ethical principles sufficiently
• does not show adequate readiness to participate in group and development work.

Assessment methods and criteria

The course is assessed on a pass/fail scale.

Pass:
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
- Student is able to search for information in a specific situation
- Student demonstrates familiarity with the field of knowledge regarding the course topics
- Student is able to distinguish between everyday knowledge and researched knowledge
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, ACTION
- Studentis able to act in individual professional situations in accordance with instructions
- Student strives to act in a client-oriented manner
- Student demonstrates sufficient knowledge to act in professional situations
ETHICS COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Student demonstrates familiarity with the ethical principles of the profession
- Student is able to function as a member of a team
- Student is able to assess their own strengths and development needs

Fail:
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
- Student uses the field of knowledge regarding the course topics in a one-sided way and is not sufficiently familiar with the relevant sources of knowledge
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, ACTION
- Student does not demonstrate sufficient professional knowledge and skills
- Student does not act in accordance with training and guidance
- Student does not have sufficient regard for professional safety and ethical principles
- Student does not have sufficient capacity to participate in group work and development
ETHICS COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
- Student does not have sufficient regard for professional safety and ethical principles
- Student does not have sufficient capacity to participate in group work and development

Qualifications

Anatomy and Physiology