Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2010 (Day) Sunway Second semester 2010 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Margaret Hay

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;

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

12. understand the general and detailed organization of the limbs and back;

13. 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;

14. 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;

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

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

17. discuss the pathogenesis of diseases caused by bacteria and microbes;

18. outline the pharmacological agents used in the treatment of infectious disease.

Human Lifespan Development: On completion of this sub-unit, students will be able to:

19. describe approaches to the study of human development across the lifespan;

20. describe the trajectory of development, and its importance to an understanding of the individual as a complete human being within a social setting.

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

21. 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;

22. perform a basic mental state examination, basic examination of the musculoskeletal system and basic examination of the neurological system;

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

24. 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:

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

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

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

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

Assessment

Examinations and written assignments to account for 80% of the end of Year 1 result as follows:
Semester assessment tasks 30%
End of semester written and OSCE-style examinations 50%
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% at designated small group teaching activities to pass this unit

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Christine McMenamin

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in the MBBS or MBBS/LLB