The course is developed around three themes.

Theme 1

Knowledge development in the following areas:

• Basic Anatomy and physiology of the vascular and lymphatic system;
• Pathophysiology of chronic oedema in the lower limb;
• Oedema differential diagnosis;
• Assessment of mild below-knee chronic lower limb oedema;
• Management of mild below-knee chronic oedema in the lower limb. It will also include an overview of management solutions that might be required for more severe chronic oedema.
• Working within the scope of practice and identification of when to refer on.

Theme 2

Chronic oedema skill development in the following areas;

• Assessment;
• Treatment of mild below-knee chronic oedemas.

Theme 3

Applied practice. The focus of this theme is on developing skills that are required for clinical practice. It integrates elements from the other themes and has a focus on clinical reasoning.

The key characteristics of the Early Intervention Lower Limb Oedema Course curriculum are:

Cased Based Learning

 The course is underpinned by the exploration of chronic oedema management through case studies that will facilitate the integration of information and skills to specific chronic oedema conditions. This will facilitate an authentic learning experience.

Interdisciplinary Care

The course fosters an appreciation of interdisciplinary teamwork and explores the roles and the development of practitioners across professions. The participant will have specific areas of expertise that they can draw upon and assist other learners. It also acknowledges scope of practice and working within and identifying when to refer on.

Integrated Curriculum

The goal of the integrated curriculum of this course is to bring the learner beyond skill and concept acquisition to creativity and evidence-based decision-making and implementation in practice.

This hybrid course combines self-paced online learning, virtual sessions and a face-to-face component.

Self-Paced Online Learning

The self-paced online learning component is delivered via the Lymphoedema Education Solutions learning management system. This component is compulsory and will prepare the participant for the virtual sessions. It is estimated that it will take approximately 10 hours to complete. The modules need to be completed before the virtual sessions which is a prerequisite. As part of the self-paced learning, the learner will explore a case study from assessment to management. This will be discussed as part of the virtual sessions.

Clinical Reasoning and Practical Sessions

Participants are required to have 100% attendance throughout the following sessions. 

Remote Session: 1-hour group virtual session that develops the participant’s clinical reasoning around assessment utilising the case study from the self-paced online course. 

Face-to-Face Workshop: The face to face component is 2 consecutive days where the participant’s manual skills and clinical reasoning will be developed. This includes circumference measuring, palpation, exercise prescription, manual lymphatic drainage, wrap, and garment application and management decision making. During these 2 days, the participant will be required to expose to just above the knee. Comfortable clothes are essential. 

Virtual Mentoring Program – 5 virtual sessions that are focused on assessing skills and making sure that the participant is feeling confident (Refer to the Virtual Mentoring Program section for further details).

Assessment is included in both the self-paced learning and the face-to-face learning components of the course.

Self-paced learning assessment
The modules include formative online quizzes that participants must achieve 80%. They have 3 attempts to complete each quiz.

Practical assessment and clinical reasoning
Day 2 of the face to face component. Participants will work in pairs and the following assessments will be undertaken:

• Circumference assessment activity
• Apply and remove a compression garment to another participant. The participant then applies and removes the compression garment to themselves.
• Apply and remove a compression wrap to another participant.
• Manual lymphatic drainage for a below-knee case study.

Virtual oral assessment
To check specific knowledge, each course participant will be invited to book into a 20-minute virtual oral assessment. This will be marked against an assessment rubric. The participant will be asked questions regarding a specific case study. This will include questions around educating a client about chronic oedema, sizing compression garments and providing education about wearing and looking after a compression garment.

Clinical reasoning assignment
The participant assesses a client and formalises a treatment plan including sizing for a garment. This is submitted online. This case study will be included as part of the mentoring program. Client treatment implementation and evaluation will be explored during the 6-month mentoring program.

Minimum of 14 course participants

It includes:

• 9-month access to the comprehensive early intervention lower limb oedema course via the LES online Learning Management System. This platform provides an interactive and collaborative environment.
• Course manuals for the self-paced online and face to face course component.
• Resources manual and tape measures
• The opportunity to develop a wide variety of skills and clinical reasoning in oedema management of mild below-knee chronic oedema while in a face to face classroom setting. This includes assessment, manual lymphatic draining, compression wrap/garment prescription and application.
• A unique mentoring program for each course participant.
• Resources to enable the participant to get started upon successful course completion. 
• Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on the full day face-to-face workshop and morning tea and lunch on the second day.

Upon successful completion of the course, after the mentoring program has finished, the participant will be provided with a course certificate for 30 hours of continuing professional