THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh Medical School : MBChB

Undergraduate Course: HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 (MBCH09020)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh Medical School CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 2 Undergraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits90 ECTS Credits45
SummaryHCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 is the second of two year-long courses, both of which (a) contribute to a comprehensive foundation in biomedical, social and clinical sciences and (b) link that knowledge to clinical practice. It comprises three biomedical modules, which address aspects of human functioning. Alongside the biomedical modules, social and ethical aspects of medicine are taught - that teaching emphasises the importance of understanding health and illness from a holistic, biopsychosocial perspective. Themes from the biomedical and socio-ethical modules are used as examples to teach research skills and professional skills. During a longitudinal general practice placement, students will be encouraged to link their theoretical learning to their clinical experience and to complete an audit project.
Course description 1) Academic Description

On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2, students will have acquired an in depth knowledge of biomedical and social sciences and will be confident in applying that knowledge to clinical medicine.
The course comprises three biomedical 'block' modules, each of which covers scientific and clinical dimensions of human functioning: 'Command and Control' which concentrates on endocrinology and neurology; 'Renal/Urology' and 'Nutrition/Digestion'. A fourth block module, 'Transitions' covers biomedical, psychological and social aspects of major life transitions. The longitudinal 'parallel' module 'Knowledge to Clinical Practice' (KCP) integrates those topics, and make links with socio-ethical themes, evidence-based medicine and professional skills.
The course builds on the learning in HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1. Taken together, HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1 and 2 prepare the student for HCP-Med: Introduction to Clinical Practice, which is taught in Year 3 of the HCP-Med programme.

2) Outline Content

The course comprises three biomedical 'block' modules as described above. In addition, five longitudinal modules run throughout the course:
(i) 'Social and Ethical Approaches to Medicine' (SEAM), which covers diagnostic labelling and medicalisation, access to care, future health and medicine and ethics;
(ii) 'Research and Evidence-Based Medicine' (REBM), which will equip students with knowledge of and skills in statistics and managing data;
(iii) 'Knowledge to Clinical Practice' (KCP) is mainly taught in general practice and emphasises the relevance of scientific and clinical knowledge to clinical practice;
(iv)'Professional Skills', which includes communication skills, clinical skills and professionalism; and
(iv) 'Student Selected Component' (SSC) in which students will complete audit project.

3) Student Learning Experience

HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 consists of 40 weeks of teaching. Three weeks are residential and each residential week involves 41 hours of student effort. The remaining 37 weeks are taught online and in GP placements - each of those weeks demands 21 hours of student effort.

Online teaching has two broad aims:
(i) To present high quality resources which engage and challenge students and
(ii) To create and support a community of learning.

Online teaching methods include:
- A video introduction, which will include the module's learning outcomes
- Pre-recorded narrated lectures covering the main learning points
- Discussion boards for both general discussion and specific tasks
- Online quizzes
- Virtual tutorials using problem-based or case-based learning
- Curated online resources
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 900 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 18, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 882 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 10 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Knowledge-based assessment.
Students will complete two papers at the end of Year 2, each with approximately 100 items - a mixture of single best answer questions (SBAQs) and very short answer questions (VSAQs). Those papers will assess knowledge of neurosciences, sleep, neuroendocrine system, adrenal physiology and thyroid hormones, pain, control of mood, renal science, urology, nutrition and digestion, regulation of sugar and lipids, liver physiology and control of calcium and bone. These two papers combined will account for x% of the total mark for the course.

SEAM
Students will submit one essay and carry out one group project pieces of coursework which will demonstrate their understanding of the diagnostic process, marginalisation and the sustainability of health systems. This coursework will account for x% of the total mark for the course.

REBM
There will be two written assignments.

SSC
Students will submit a final report of their audit project. This coursework will account for x% of the total mark for the course.

Case reports
Students will write two case reports of patients with multi-morbidity. Reports will be marked as either 'excellent', 'satisfactory' or 'unsatisfactory'. If unsatisfactory, the student will have an opportunity to improve and re-submit the report. If the re-submitted report is marked as unsatisfactory, it will be moderated by a senior tutor and if it is failed, the student can re-sit. Students must have two completed case reports by the end of Year 2.

Knowledge to clinical practice (KCP)
An 8-10 station objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) will assess history-taking, communication skills, clinical skills and clinical examination. Candidates must achieve an overall pass score, pass at least half of the stations and achieve a score of at least 50% for each of four domains (communication, information-gathering, applied knowledge and professionalism).

Professionalism.
The GP tutor and the HCP-Med Programme Director will each write a report on whether satisfactory professional behaviour has been demonstrated throughout the year. This assessment must be passed but will not contribute to the total mark for the course.
Feedback Feedback on formative tasks
There will be a formative online knowledge test before each diet of summative examinations. Students will be sent a performance report, which includes their own answers, the correct answers and explanations.

Feedback on summative assessments
This will be provided when course-work is returned or, in the case of exams, after the Board of Examiners ratifies marks, and will include:

In course assignments (for SEAM, REBM, SSC): written narrative feedback and an opportunity to discuss the feedback with the relevant HCP-Med module organiser.

Professionalism: written feedback from the GP-tutor and the relevant HCP-Med module organiser will be provided, and an opportunity given to discuss the feedback with the at the end of each module.

Knowledge tests: Students will complete weekly online quizzes to monitor their own progress.

Feedback from personal tutors:
Personal tutors will provide feedback on CVs and the record of generic professional skills and can discuss other's feedback to help students build on their current performance.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)HCP - Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 Paper 12:00
Outwith Standard Exam Diets JuneHCP - Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 Paper 22:00
Outwith Standard Exam Diets AugustHCP - Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 Resit2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. To develop knowledge and understanding of biomedical sciences (physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, biochemistry, immunology) relevant to the endocrine, neurological, gastrointestinal and renal systems. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed by an end-of-year knowledge-based examination.
  2. To develop knowledge and understanding of medical sociology, ethics and statistics/data handling relevant to the practice of medicine. Numeracy skills will be acquired through teaching of statistic. Assessed using in-course assignments.
  3. To integrate knowledge and understanding of biomedicine, social science and ethics and to apply that knowledge to clinical scenarios which are encountered in the general practice placement. Assessed using in-course assignments.
  4. To develop communication skills necessary for clinical practice. To become confident in the ability to work with others and demonstrate accountability in both the clinical setting and with tutors and peers in the academic setting, Assessed by a report from GP-tutors and HCP-Med module organisers.
  5. Through conducting an individual two year audit project in the general practice placement, demonstrate generic cognitive skills and autonomy (deciding on a topic, formulating the audit question, planning the project, summarising results and making recommendations). Assessed through a final report.
Reading List
Students will have access to the HCP-Med Resource List.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills As a scholar and scientist: On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2, the student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles, and evidence base of biomedical science (particularly relating to endocrinology, renal/urology and gastrointestinal system) social sciences and ethics relevant to medicine. They will be able to apply those principles to clinical scenarios.

As a practitioner: On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2 the student will be able to demonstrate further skills in communicating with patients, applying clinical judgement and using knowledge of biomedical and social science and ethics. The student will have acquired further specific practical skills and will be confident in appropriate sharing of academic and clinical information using information technology.

As a professional: On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2, the student will be confident in planning their personal learning and will be competent in contributing to group learning and teamwork. They will have developed reflective practice in both academic and clinical settings and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of medical students and doctors. They will continue to attend to personal health, wellbeing and professional development.
Keywordsmedicine,medical ethics,human physiology,human anatomy,medical sociology,evidence-based medicine
Contacts
Course organiserDr Helen Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 4362
Email: Helen.Richards@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Susan Maitland
Tel: (0131) 242 7119
Email: Susan.Maitland@ed.ac.uk
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