Leader: Associate Professor Ross Young and Dr Ian Presnell

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)
Sunway First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

MED1011 will introduce students to the four themes (sub-units) upon which the five-year curriculum is based:
THEME I: Personal and Professional Development: students will participate in a three-day residential program, focusing on transition to university life, personal ethics, healthy lifestyle, group support and communication skills. This will be followed by a Health Enhancement program concentrating on self care (stress management, relaxation training, coping skills), other aspects of healthy lifestyle and group support, and introduction to the science of Mind-Body Medicine. Also included: an introduction to Ethics and Medical Law.
THEME II: Population, Society, Health and Illness: Health, Knowledge and Society. A series of 'hypotheticals'(debates and discussions) will provide a framework of inquiry allowing analysis of the social aspects of medicine, utilizing the 'sociological imagination'. The sociological imagination refers to a framework of inquiry into the social phenomena that examines events in historical, cultural, structural and critical terms.
THEME III: Foundations of Medicine: The Fabric of Life provides students with foundation knowledge in genomics and cell biology in health and disease. An integral part of this theme will be the weekly patient-centred learning activity
(PCL). Each PCL integrates material presented to students in this and other themes throughout the week.
THEME IV: Clinical Skills: introduces students to practical clinical skills, including scrub, gloving, sharps disposal; Basic Life Support (Level 2) First Aid Program; subcutaneous and intramuscular injecting. Students will interact with health care professionals during medical contact visits, and will be introduced to the medical interview, taking a family history, ethical aspects of medical contact visits.

Objectives

Theme I: On completion of this sub-unit students will be able to:

1. Identify issues which affect their transition from school to university

2. Develop strategies for maintaining their mental and physical health status

3. Examine the similarities/differences between ethical issues in personal and professional life

4. Be acquainted with the legal framework within which medical practice operates and the legal basis of the doctor-patient relationship

Theme II: On completion of this sub-unit students will be able to:

5. Discuss different perspectives on health, illness and medical practice through application of the 'sociological imagination'

6. Describe associations between health and illness and social influences like disability, place, social position, gender, ethnicity, ecology and access to health care

7. Consider appropriate adaptations of medical practice to suit cultural and social circumstances

8. Critically examine the influence their own experiences, background and culture have on their attitudes towards medicine

9. Demonstrate basic skills in accessing research materials from personal, print and electronic sources

Theme III: On completion of this sub-unit, students will have knowledge and understanding of:

10. Normal cell and tissue structure and function

11. Genes in health and disease

12. The immune system in health and disease

13. Interaction between microbial organisms and the human host

14. Injury and the host response

15. Genetic and environmental factors leading to neoplasia, its progression and spread

Theme IV: On completion of this sub-unit students will be able to:

16. Demonstrate clear and appropriate communication skills

17. Understand different forms of communication and the need for active listening

18. Work cooperatively with health professionals (nurses, GPs) and trainees (nurses) to achieve specified tasks

19. Understand the framework for taking a comprehensive medical history

20. Be competent in First Aid as shown by the completion of the first aid course

21. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical and legal issues when communicating with patients and their families

Assessment

Examinations and written assignments to account for 20% of the end of year one mark.

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery