THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Biomedical Sciences : Biomedical Sciences

Undergraduate Course: Academic Medicine (BIME10056)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Biomedical Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe Academic Medicine course will enhance student understanding of the principles underpinning clinical study design, statistics and research methodologies and highlight how these relate to the published scientific medical literature. Students will produce an on-line ePortfolio comprising critical analysis of 3 research papers and a log detailing their reflections upon their experiences and learning during semesters 1 and 2. This course will enable students to assess and make considered judgements on the quality and robustness of published clinical and scientific medical research. The course will also facilitate self-directed learning and continuing professional development to encourage students to refine and improve their practice and learning during the programme.
Course description This course is designed to complement the associated 20-credit Scientific Frontiers of Medicine course delivered in Semester 1. Students will attend a series of journal clubs and discuss a variety of scientific and medical research papers. Students will be led through the critical appraisal of research papers with the focus upon the analysis of the hypotheses to be tested, study design and data analyses presented in the paper. Potential sources of bias will be discussed and students will identify key strengths and weaknesses of the research and suggest areas for refinement and further research in the area.
Students will be required to keep a reflective log that will include their critiques of 3 research papers as well as the teaching activities (20-credit Scientific Frontiers in Medicine course and 10-credit Academic Medicine course) delivered September to March in the form of an ePortfolio. Reflective practice is a key part of self-directed learning and continuing professional development. It encourages students to refine and improve their practice, and provides a reference point to demonstrate development over the course of the Honours BMedSci programme. An on-line reflective ePortfolio will be completed by the student during the Academic Medicine course allowing the opportunity to critically reflect upon first-hand experiences as well as scientific and medical research, in order to develop a critical, evidence-based approach to medicine.

The Academic Medicine course will use journal clubs to explore in more depth and from a research perspective the lectures and seminars delivered during the 20-credit Scientific Frontiers in Medicine course in Semester 1. Students will be required to keep a log of their critiques of 3 research papers and their reflections on the teaching activities (20-credit Scientific Frontiers of Medicine course and 10 credit Academic Medicine course) delivered September to March in the form of an ePortfolio.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  16
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 78 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) In-course assessment:
A crticial appraisal of 3 research papers (60%) and a reflective ePortfolio (40%)
Feedback Formative feedback will be provided in the journal clubs throughout the course.
A structured questionnaire will be used to gather feedback on the components of the course.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts and principles underpinning clinical study design, ethics, and statistics.
  2. Apply knowledge, skills and understanding of research methodologies and design to search for and evaluate scientific and medical evidence and data.
  3. Critically review and consolidate knowledge and skills used to critically analyse published scientific and medical research.
  4. Communicate information, ideas and arguments effectively in written and verbal form to peers and senior colleagues.
  5. Demonstrate reflective insights into ones own professional development and teaching and learning experience
Learning Resources
A series of research papers will be provided by the Course organiser
Review articles
Original relevant research journal articles
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students will develop key graduate attributes including:
- In-depth knowledge of specialist discipline
- Development of new understanding by exercising critical judgement and challenging existing knowledge
- Become a self-directed learner
- Solve problems effectively taking ethical, professional and environmental issues into account
- Use information responsibly in a range of contexts
- Collaborate with others, capitalising on their different thinking, experience and skills
- Communicate (oral, written, online) effectively, respectful of social and cultural diversity
- Application of information and communications technology
KeywordsEvidence-based medicine,study design,critical appraisal.
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jeremy Hughes
Tel: (0131) 242 6683
Email: Jeremy.Hughes@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kimberley Bruce
Tel: (0131 6)50 3717
Email: kimberley.bruce@ed.ac.uk
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