Professional Certificate in Conservative Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

What you'll learn

On completion of the course Conservative Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse 1, students should be able to:

• Describe the anatomy of the female pelvis in relation to pelvic organ support, the aetiology of pelvic organ prolapse and the risk factors, in particular the role of intra-abdominal pressure.
• Explain and demonstrate the role and scope of physiotherapy biopsychosocial assessment and patient-centred management of prolapse, including fitting and review of pessaries in different health care settings, in relation to shared care and the multidisciplinary health care team.
• Perform a digital vaginal examination to identify and assess key pelvic structures (pelvic floor muscles, pelvic organs) and stage all compartments of pelvic organ prolapse, demonstrating an understanding of quantification of prolapse and pessary sizing.
• Demonstrate safe and effective practical skills for pelvic organ prolapse, including assessing suitability for ring pessary care, knowledge and teaching of patient self-care, and ability to identify and respond to, risk and complications.
• Identify, interpret and appraise contemporary theory, evidence and procedures relating to assessment and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.
• Apply principles of informed consent and infection control with all procedures.
• Explain and demonstrate processes for instigating new (or optimising existing) pessary care practices in a range of health care settings.

On completion of the course Conservative Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse 2, students should be able to:

• Use clinical reasoning and an evidence-based approach to assess, design and progress a comprehensive management program, including pessaries, pelvic floor muscle training, general exercise and lifestyle advice, for a range of presentations of pelvic organ prolapse.
• Articulate the evidence-based role and scope of physiotherapy management in relation to prolapse surgery and the multidisciplinary health care team.
• Demonstrate safe and effective practical skills for pelvic organ prolapse, including fitting select pessaries and teaching patient 'self-care'.
• Apply principles of informed consent and infection control with all procedures in line with contemporary health care practice.
• Demonstrate best-practice principles of a patient-centered approach to communication and behaviour change, maximising adherence to conservative management for patients, including those with complex biopsychosocial presentations.
• Choose and apply appropriate outcome measures to assess the response to the conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse.
• Explain organisational management, safety and risk management, sufficient for providing pessary care with a range of pessary types and including pessary fitting aids, in a variety of health care settings.

Who can attend?

• Students must be physiotherapists (registered to practise in Australia or New Zealand), with a current Australian National Police Certificate (or equivalent).

Applicants must provide evidence of:

• University level postgraduate training in the management of pelvic floor dysfunction or have undertaken at least three professional development courses in pelvic floor dysfunction. This must include: practical training in the conduct of vaginal examinations; training in the assessment and management of pelvic organ prolapse and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
• Having attended at least one professional development activity relevant to pelvic floor dysfunction in the past two years.
• A minimum of one year full time equivalent clinical experience in managing women with pelvic floor dysfunction and regular conduct of vaginal examinations subsequent to their training.
• Treating women with pelvic floor dysfunction in the past five years.