MED4004

Community medicine

Professor J E Murtagh

3 hours per week (terms one and two) · 16 hours (term three)

Objectives At the completion of this subject, students will have an understanding of the complementary nature of community-based and hospital-based health care models and the different spectrum of illness patterns relevant to both; a general practice based perspective of common problems presenting to family medical practitioners including multidisciplinary, preventive and ethical issues in relation to these; skills required to manage common problems in the community; preventive health issues in illness management; the importance of health promotion from the doctor's health as well as community health perspective; community perspectives on issues relating to death and dying, complementary health practitioners, childhood health, aboriginal health, rural health and common infectious diseases; the importance of ongoing commitment to learning in relation to diseases that are common, significant, preventable and treatable.

Synopsis Learning is through interactive seminars and self-directed learning activities. A weekly afternoon program focuses on the fifteen most common problems presenting to family medical practitioners using a problem-solving model which includes multidisciplinary management, ethical issues and preventive measures. In addition, the program includes general practice visits; site visits to a drug and alcohol agency and to various community and support groups relevant to areas such as drugs in society, multicultural issues, stress management, aboriginal health, rural health, ethical issues and counselling and communication skills. A personal workbook will be compiled to include information regarding management of everyday problems not covered elsewhere in the medical curriculum. Supervised feedback and appraisal is provided through videotaped consulting skills exercises.

Assessment Clinical interpretation exam and workbook submission: 10% (of final mark) · Contribution to MCQ and OSCA examination

Back to the 1999 Medicine Handbook