The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over a range of workplace situations

Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

Evidence is required of both knowledge and skills application

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units

holistic/integrated assessment including:

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Resources essential for assessment include:

an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

relevant texts or medical manuals

documented process to enable the access and interpretation of up-to-date information

relevant assessment instruments

appropriate assessment environment

skilled assessors

Method of assessment

Practical demonstration

Simulations

Explanations for plan preparations

Oral questioning and discussion

Practical assignments

Written, multiple choice or short answer tests

Case studies and scenarios

Observation in a practical setting

Research work

Related units:

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related units:

HLTAYV608C Manage work within an ayurvedic framework

HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients

HLTAYV615C Apply ayurvedic diagnostic framework

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Allopathic drugs, their classifications, usage and side effects

Ayurvedic pharmacodynamics and the theory of drug action - factors modifying drug effect and dosage; drug toxicity and toxicology

Ayurvedic pharmacokinetics - drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion

Ayurvedic pharmacology

Common disease states and functional problems of each bodily system

Community resources and support services

Considerations of social issues on treatment availability and outcome (e.g. economic factors, access to disabled clients, language communication

Drug abuse - signs, consequences, treatment, community resources available

Drug interactions

Drugs used in pregnancy and breast feeding

Drugs used to treat disorders of each system of the body

Groups of formulations and how to distinguish between them

Indications, contra-indications, precautions, negative effects of treatment

Legal and ethical considerations in treating clients with remedies/treatments

Lifestyle factors relevant to treatment of specific conditions and diseases

Major formulations with respect to their use for general symptoms, psychological and physiological indications

Medical reports and diagnostic procedures

Medical terminology

Methods of preparing treatment and management plans

Minor formulations in respect to their most important indications

Pathogenesis according to ayurveda

Possible obstacles to cure

Remedies/treatments and dosages used to treat particular conditions

Supplementary measures in the management of the condition/system (dietary considerations, exercise)

The active principles of the treatments used for each condition/system

The ayurvedic materia medica including ganas herbs, ras shastra and bhyashjia kalpana of ayurvedic traditional formulations, or the equivalent herbs available in Australia

The ayurvedic principles and practice of treating common conditions

continued ...

Essential knowledge (contd):

The clinical indications of remedies relevant to specific circumstances - infectious diseases, first aid and injuries

The ingredients and procedures for formulation of ayurvedic preparations

The interaction of treatments with foods, herbs, nutritional supplements and drugs

The possible responses and contra-indications to treatments

The principles of formulation (including dosage and duration of treatment)

Tridosha theory

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Access and interpret up-to-date information

Access and understand reference material on the effects of current conventional drug therapies and their withdrawal

Adequately record findings and treatment plan

Apply consideration of the impact of client vitality on selected treatments

Apply methods of treating and managing disease process of each system using ayurvedic formulations/treatments

Identify treatment options and establish treatment regimes

Prepare treatment plans

Prescribe treatments according to the timeframe appropriate to the client condition and the treatments selected, and to the dosage recommended for the client age group

Provide advice

Select dietary regimes for specific conditions

Understand and discuss medical reports and other data relevant to the case

Use communication and negotiation skills

Use interpersonal and questioning skills

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Contra-indications to treatment and possible complicating factors may include:

Acute surgical and medical conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute hypoglycaemic shock, paralytic ileus and loss of consciousness

Traumatic injuries or conditions requiring immediate medical attention

Life threatening situations

Personal or life circumstances

Ability or willingness to comply with treatment

Allergies/sensitivities

Past treatment history

Current conditions/disease state

Current medications/treatments

Contra-indications for use of certain excipients and bases

Lack of client consent

Treatments may include:

Aharatatva (treatment according to ayurvedic dietary and nutrition principles based on rasa and guna siddhanta)

Dravyaguna (treatment by means of ayurvedic preparations based on herbs, minerals and metals.)

Shodhana chikitsa (purification or detoxification treatment)

Shamana chikitsa (pacification or rejuvenation)

Abhyanga (massage or oleation treatment)

Pancha karma (five-fold ayurvedic cleansing process)

Langhana chikitsa (fasting or restricted diet or food intake)

Rasayana chikitsa (rejuvenation treatment)

Yoga therapy

Lifestyle modifications

Dinacharya advice (ayurvedic daily routine)

Ritucharya advice (ayurvedic seasonal routine)

Restoration of gyan, vignan, dhairya, shriti

Client compliance refers to:

Ability to follow instructions or suggestions

Willingness to follow instructions or suggestions

Discrepancies may include:

Client is unaware of the immediate danger of their condition

Client is over-anxious about their condition

Client is unaware of maintaining causes acting on their condition

Practitioner is unaware of some implications of the client's condition

Practitioner and client have different views about what the main problem is

Contrary information may have been believed/adopted

Practitioner responsibilities may include:

Isolating the sick person

Notifying doctor about their condition

Appropriate hygienic behaviour

Appropriate ethical behaviour

Notifying state health authorities of notifiable/communicable disease

Commitment to the treatment plan

Discussing relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment

Review of treatment plan

Discussion with other practitioners involved in client's case

Client responsibilities may include:

Following instruction/advice during and post treatment

Advising practitioner of any relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment

Advising practitioner of other types of treatment being used

Advising practitioner of compliance issues

Commitment to the treatment plan

Treatment evaluation strategies may include:

Discussion and review of response to treatment

Reviewing achievement of treatment goals

Monitoring timeframe for achieving treatment goals