Leader: Associate Professor Ross Young and Dr Ian Presnell

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)
Sunway Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

THEME 1: 'Health Enhancement Program' develops strategies for personal health enhancement and ethical/legal issues relevant to professional responsibility, the doctor-patient relationship and public accountability.
THEME 2: 'Population Health' develops an understanding of epidemiology, construction of epidemiological study design, function and interpretation of statistical information and critical appraisal of research publications.
THEME 3: 'Neuroscience, musculo-skeletal and behaviour' examines major concepts within the areas of 'Neuroscience', 'The musculo-skeletal system' and 'Behaviour'. THEME 4: 'Clinical Skills' develops comprehensive medical history taking skills and awareness of key ethical issues involved in communication with patients, family members, carers and health professionals. Rural attachment: a week based at a rural centre will focus on developing an understanding of the practice of medicine in a rural context. Electives: time is allocated for students to undertake elective studies within or outside the faculty.

Objectives

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

1. identify ongoing strategies for their own health enhancement;

2. understand difference ethical debates involving: doctor/patient relationships; health and illness; ideas of personhood and body;

3. understand concepts of professional responsibility and public accountability with reference to the role of the courts, common law, statutes and professional self-regulation;

4. understand the conceptual and practical implications of Community Service Placements in Year 2;

5. articulate and debrief their early clinical experiences.

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

6. demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and methods of biostatistics in medical research;

7. understand the strengths and weaknesses of different epidemiological study designs;

8. appreciate the role of chance, bias and confounding in epidemiological studies;

9. critically appraise articles in medical journals.

Interpret and appreciate the clinical relevance of statistical information presented in medical research publications;



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



11. demonstrate a sound knowledge and understandings of the general principles, concepts and language of neuroscience that will provide for a basis for the study of neural control of body systems and neurology in later semesters;



12. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the structure and function of neurons, signaling mechanisms, drug actions and receptors mechanisms, and the organisation, inter relationship and general function of all divisions of the nervous system;



13. demonstrate a knowledge and appreciation of the function of peripheral sensory systems, sensory pathways, motor pathways and the importance of sensory feedback;



14. understand the general and detailed organisation of the limbs and back;



15. identify and test the muscle groups acting on the joints of the upper and lower limb, the cranio-vertebral and the intervertebral joints, and their normal range of movement;



16. identify the surface markings of the major joints, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and bony features of the upper and lower limbs and vertebral column; and understand the application of imaging technologies to the musculoskeletal systems;



17. understand the detailed structure and function of the tissues of the musculoskeletal system, including bone, muscle, tendon, articular cartilage, ligaments and connective tissue;



18. demonstrate an introductory level of understanding of human psychology and the neurobiological basis of human behaviour;



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



19. understand the framework for, and skills required, to take a comprehensive medical history using the principles of clinical reasoning, to arrive at an understanding of the patient as a whole person;



20. perform a basic mental state examination, basic

examination of the musculoskeletal system and basic examination of the neurobiological system;



21. work cooperatively with other health professionals and trainees to achieve specific tasks;



22. demonstrate an awareness of key ethical issues when communicating with patients, their families, their carers (including health professionals and community groups);



Rural Attachment: On completion of this Rural Attachment students will be able to:



23. recognise the importance of place to health, illness, injury and health service delivery;



24. describe the health, illness, community services and facilities available in a rural location;



25. recognise how rural health differs across gender, age, race and sexual orientation;



26. compare and contrast medicine in a rural context with their metropolitan experiences to date.

Assessment

Semester assessment tasks 50%
End of semester written and OSCE-style examinations 50%

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the MBBS or MBBS/LLB