2025
Basic Fundamentals of Laser Therapy in Maternal and Child Health
Name: Basic Fundamentals of Laser Therapy in Maternal and Child Health
Code: ENF16611O
1 ECTS
Duration: 1 weeks/26 hours
Scientific Area:
Nursing
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: E-learning
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Learning Objectives (LO):
1. Explain the fundamentals and evolution of photobiomodulation in health.
2. Distinguish between high-power laser, low-power laser, and therapeutic LED.
3. Describe the mechanisms of action of light-tissue interaction.
4. Identify indications, limitations, contraindications, and precautions, especially in maternal and child health.
5. Critically analyze the evidence, considering irradiation parameters and methodological heterogeneity.
6. Relate photobiomodulation to clinical reasoning, professional responsibility, and the nurse's role.
Competencies:
- Understands the fundamentals, evidence, risks, and precautions of photobiomodulation in maternal and child health.
- Recognizes the limits of application and the ethical, professional, and regulatory framework of this technology.
1. Explain the fundamentals and evolution of photobiomodulation in health.
2. Distinguish between high-power laser, low-power laser, and therapeutic LED.
3. Describe the mechanisms of action of light-tissue interaction.
4. Identify indications, limitations, contraindications, and precautions, especially in maternal and child health.
5. Critically analyze the evidence, considering irradiation parameters and methodological heterogeneity.
6. Relate photobiomodulation to clinical reasoning, professional responsibility, and the nurse's role.
Competencies:
- Understands the fundamentals, evidence, risks, and precautions of photobiomodulation in maternal and child health.
- Recognizes the limits of application and the ethical, professional, and regulatory framework of this technology.
Contents
Module 1. Fundamentals of Photobiomodulation:
- History of laser therapy
- Relationship between light and biological systems
- Concept of photobiomodulation
- Distinction between high-power laser, low-power laser, and therapeutic LED
- Mechanisms of cellular action and light-tissue interaction.
Module 2. Clinical Applications and Maternal-Infant Context:
- Non-invasive technologies
- Possibilities of clinical application of photobiomodulation
- Clinical indications described in the literature, with examples in maternal and child health
- Contraindications, precautions, and limits of evidence.
Module 3. Variables, Safety, and Professional Framework:
- Influence of wavelength, dose, and biphasic response
- Introductory clinical reasoning
- Safety, eye protection, devices, and regulations
- Professional responsibility and ethics.
Module 4. Professional Development in Nursing:
- Evidence-based practice
- Interdisciplinary work
- Potential for professional differentiation.
- History of laser therapy
- Relationship between light and biological systems
- Concept of photobiomodulation
- Distinction between high-power laser, low-power laser, and therapeutic LED
- Mechanisms of cellular action and light-tissue interaction.
Module 2. Clinical Applications and Maternal-Infant Context:
- Non-invasive technologies
- Possibilities of clinical application of photobiomodulation
- Clinical indications described in the literature, with examples in maternal and child health
- Contraindications, precautions, and limits of evidence.
Module 3. Variables, Safety, and Professional Framework:
- Influence of wavelength, dose, and biphasic response
- Introductory clinical reasoning
- Safety, eye protection, devices, and regulations
- Professional responsibility and ethics.
Module 4. Professional Development in Nursing:
- Evidence-based practice
- Interdisciplinary work
- Potential for professional differentiation.
Teaching Methods
The course will be delivered via e-learning, with a modular, promoting flexible access and autonomous learning. The pedagogical model is based on constructive alignment, ensuring coherence between objectives, activities, and assessment, and integrates principles of active learning in an online environment, with progression from access to information to the critical construction of knowledge.
In operational terms, each module will include:
1. Expository lecture for conceptual introduction;
2. Guided readings of articles and reference documents;
3. Brief case studies focused on maternal and child health situations;
4. Discussion forum guided by problem-solving questions, promoting reflection and evidence-based argumentation;
5. Final synthesis of the module, with key points, limitations of evidence, and implications for professional practice.
The methodology prioritizes guided autonomous learning, critical reading of evidence, and reflective transfer to professional contexts, without teaching technical protocols or therapeutic parameterization. Thus, the course maintains consistency with its introductory and non-qualifying nature, reinforcing conceptual security, scientific literacy, and professional responsibility.
The pedagogical methodology used in this curricular unit includes the use of advanced technological resources, namely, digital environments and technological platforms applied to training.
In operational terms, each module will include:
1. Expository lecture for conceptual introduction;
2. Guided readings of articles and reference documents;
3. Brief case studies focused on maternal and child health situations;
4. Discussion forum guided by problem-solving questions, promoting reflection and evidence-based argumentation;
5. Final synthesis of the module, with key points, limitations of evidence, and implications for professional practice.
The methodology prioritizes guided autonomous learning, critical reading of evidence, and reflective transfer to professional contexts, without teaching technical protocols or therapeutic parameterization. Thus, the course maintains consistency with its introductory and non-qualifying nature, reinforcing conceptual security, scientific literacy, and professional responsibility.
The pedagogical methodology used in this curricular unit includes the use of advanced technological resources, namely, digital environments and technological platforms applied to training.
Assessment
Continuous and formative assessment, adapted to the e-learning regime and the introductory nature of the course:
- Modular quizzes (30%) - multiple-choice and true/false questionnaires with automatic feedback.
- Forum participation (20%) - interventions based on guided discussion about a maternal or child health scenario and its scientific evidence.
- Final individual work (50%) - short text of critical analysis of a case or applied mini-review, in which the student identifies the fundamentals, potential clinical utility, limitations of the evidence, safety aspects and professional context.
- Modular quizzes (30%) - multiple-choice and true/false questionnaires with automatic feedback.
- Forum participation (20%) - interventions based on guided discussion about a maternal or child health scenario and its scientific evidence.
- Final individual work (50%) - short text of critical analysis of a case or applied mini-review, in which the student identifies the fundamentals, potential clinical utility, limitations of the evidence, safety aspects and professional context.
Teaching Staff
- Maria Otília Brites Zangão [responsible]
Accreditations and Certifications
