Academic basis of general practice/family medicine
Associate Professor L Piterman and Professor R Strasser
First semester
The subject aims to (1) develop students' knowledge and understanding of concepts in medicine, particularly in relation to general practice/family medicine; (2) clarify and broaden their conceptual frameworks of general practice/family medicine including the knowledge of its theoretical foundations; and (3) expand their perspectives on academic general practice/family medicine. The following topics describe the content of this subject: medicine as science; the science and art of medicine; the technology and craft of medicine; health and illness, sickness and disease; aetiology, diagnosis and prognosis; concepts of healing; history and philosophy of general practice/family medicine; conceptual framework of general practice/family medicine; clinical decision making in general practice/family medicine; roles and tasks of the general practitioner; general practice in the community and community health; future directions of general practice; academic general practice: general practitioners in the university setting.
Assessment
Three short essays: 1000-1500 words * Presentation of journal containing a record of activities carried out during the sessions
Prescribed texts
Balint M The doctor, his patient and the illness 2nd edn, Pitman Medical, 1964
Hetzel R The new physician Houghton Mifflin, 1991
McWhinney I R A textbook of family medicine OUP, 1989