Undergraduate Course: HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1 (MBCH08014)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Medical School |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 90 |
ECTS Credits | 45 |
| Summary | HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1 is the first 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 evidence-based medicine and professional skills. During a longitudinal general practice placement, students will be encouraged to link their theoretical learning to their clinical experience. |
| Course description |
1) Academic Description
On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1, students will have acquired a broad knowledge of biomedical and social sciences and will begin to appreciate their relevance to clinical medicine.
The course comprises three biomedical modules, each of which covers scientific and clinical dimensions of human functioning: 'Body in Motion' concentrates on the locomotor and respiratory systems and covers relevant anatomy and physiology as well as the principles of pharmacology; 'Sustaining Life' focuses on the cardiovascular system, nutrition and digestion, and includes teaching on the structure and functions of blood; 'Integrity' covers homeostasis, immunology and cancer. 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 will prepare students for 'HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 2', which addresses new biomedical topics and develops further learning in social and ethical aspects of medicine and professional skills.
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 the social patterning of ill health, the experience of health and illness, ethical aspects of medicine and public health;
(ii) 'Research and Evidence-Based Medicine' (REBM), which will equip students with the skills needed for critical appraisal of scientific research and its application to clinical scenarios;
(iii) 'Knowledge to Clinical Practice' (KCP), is mainly taught in general practice and emphasises the relevance of scientific and clinical knowledge to clinical practice. For example, alongside 'Body in Motion', KCP will include case-studies of common disorders of the locomotor system, such as osteoarthritis;
(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 1 consists of 40 weeks of teaching. Three weeks are residential in Edinburgh and each residential week involves 41 hours of student effort. The remaining 37 weeks are taught online and in GP placements, and 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
- Online quizzes
- Virtual tutorials using problem-based or case-based learning
- Curated online resources
General practice placements will use a variety of teaching methods:
(i) apprentice-style observation of surgeries, which will provide early exposure to a wide range of clinical cases relevant to the online curriculum;
(ii) tutorials covering aspects of professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to complement online teaching; and
(iii) shadowing members of the primary care team.
Residential weeks will include lectures, tutorials, group-work, workshops for communication skills and clinical skills, and practical demonstrations.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 34 |
| 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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
65 %,
Coursework
35 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This is a year- long assessed course. All students in Year 1 must undertake and pass Knowledge Tests Paper 1 and Paper 2 (online examinations). The Knowledge Tests papers will consist of questions with both single best answers and very short answer questions. Students will also undertake an Anatomy spot test which will take place in the Anatomy Teaching Lab at Teviot. Students are required to achieve a pass in Knowledge Test and also in Anatomy Spot Test as these are standalone assessment and cannot be compensated by other elements of assessment.
There will be 3 essays in Socio-Ethical Aspects of Medicine which must be passed.
Student Selected Component is an audit report which must be passed.
Professionalism: Students should aim for 100% attendance and engagement, and professional behaviour must be maintained in order to progress.
PROGRESSION CRITERIA
For students to progress to Year 2 they must achieve a pass in all examinations, in-course assessments and professionalism component.
If a Concern/Issue is raised about a student's professionalism (including attendance, engagement and professional conduct), the Board of Examiners will decide appropriate further attendance, remedial learning or another opportunity to demonstrate professional conduct, as appropriate. All Issues must have been satisfactorily addressed by the end of the course to progress to Year 2.
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| 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.
Professionalism: written feedback from the GP-tutor.
Knowledge tests: Students will complete weekly online quizzes to monitor their own progress. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
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| Outwith Standard Exam Diets December | HCP-Med Foundations of Medicine - Paper 1 | 80 | | | Outwith Standard Exam Diets June | HCP-Med Foundations of Medicine - Paper 2 | 120 | | | Outwith Standard Exam Diets August | HCP-Med Foundations of Medicine Resit | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To develop knowledge and understanding of biomedical sciences (physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, biochemistry, immunology) relevant to the locomotor, cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal systems. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed by an end-of-year knowledge-based examination.
- To develop foundation knowledge and understanding of medical sociology, ethics and evidence-based medicine relevant to the practice of medicine. Numeracy skills will be acquired through teaching of statistic. Assessed using in-course assignments.
- To integrate knowledge and understanding of biomedicine, social science and ethics and to apply that knowledge to clinical scenarios which are encountered in general practice placement. Assessed using in-course assignments.
- To develop basic communication skills necessary for clinical practice. To acquire the ability to work with others and demonstrate accountability in both the clinical setting (general practice) and with tutors and peers in the academic setting (online learning environment). Assessed by a report from GP-tutors and HCP-Med module organisers.
- 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 an interim report.
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Reading List
| Students will have access to the HCP-Med Resource List. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Professional Knowledge: On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1, the student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of biomedical science (particularly relating to the locomotor, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and including the principles of pharmacology), social sciences and ethics relevant to medicine. They will be able to apply those principles to clinical scenarios.
Professional Skills As a Practitioner: On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1 the student will be able to demonstrate basic clinical skills such as communicating with patients, applying judgement to clinical scenarios, using knowledge of biomedical and social science and ethics. The student will have acquired specific practical skills such as first aid and measurement of blood pressure. The student will also demonstrate an ability to share academic and clinical information using information technology.
Professional Values and Attributes As a professional: On completion of HCP-Med: Foundations of Medicine 1, the student will be able to plan their personal learning with reference to learning outcomes and guidance from tutors. They will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of medical students and doctors, participate successfully in Problem Based Learning (PBL) groups, and attend to personal health, wellbeing and professional development.
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| Keywords | medicine,medical ethics,human physiology,human anatomy,medical sociology,evidence-based medicine |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jen Kennedy
Tel:
Email: Jen.Kennedy@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Nicola McKay
Tel:
Email: nmckay3@ed.ac.uk |
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