MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS
Medicine Handbook 1996
Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
MED1041
+ MED1042
Health, illness and human behaviour I and II
Dr K V Jones (Psychological Medicine) and Dr C Hassed (Community Medicine)
Objectives This subject provides students with an introduction to the
behavioural science elements underlying the practice of medicine in Australia.
On the completion of the subject, students will have been introduced to the
individual, in health and illness, as a complete and developing human being in
a social context; and to the historical, cultural, scientific and ethical
context of medical practice. Students will be able to obtain and record
information from an individual subject and about that subject and their family,
and about communications in medical settings, by use of appropriate level
behavioural observation and interviewing skills; to obtain information from
library, archival and electronic sources; to think critically about
psychological, social/cultural and ethical issues; to analyse information
obtained by observation in the light of basic science knowledge and theory in
order to solve problems and draw appropriate conclusions; to present written
and oral reports; and to demonstrate communication, first-aid, and computer
skills sufficient to pass appropriate practical assessments. Students are also
expected to develop appropriate scientific, ethical and professional attitudes
for the practice of good medicine.
Synopsis Subunits of the subject cover human growth and development over
the life-span; basic psychological processes including their biological bases;
social, cultural and familial factors in the understanding of health and
illness and medicine; ethical principles and methods of analysis in relation to
medicine; introductory biostatistics and research methods; medical informatics
and the applications of computers to the practice of medicine; clinical and
communication skills; and first-aid. Educational methods include the learning
of content through lectures, textbooks and project work; and the development of
skills and attitudes through tutorials, first-aid training and direct
experience with health care providers and consumers in medical settings and
with a normal family. Each student will maintain a workbook logging all
experiences relevant to skills development during the year.
Assessment Examinations (first semester 3 hours, second semester 2
hours): 50% + Family study essay (3000 words): 10% + Ethics project work: 10% +
Tutor's assessment (participation, workbook and formal videotaped communication
skills assessment): 30% (NB: skills assessment in first-aid and medical
informatics must be passed, but do not contribute to mark)
Prescribed texts
- Jones K V and others (eds) Readings in health, illness and human
behaviour Faculty of Medicine, Monash U, 1995
- Jones K V Student workbook: Clinical and communication skills
Faculty of Medicine, Monash U, 1995
Recommended texts
- Berger K The developing person through the life span 3rd edn, Worth,
1994 or
- Gething L and others Life span development McGaw-Hill, 1994
or
- Hoffman L and others Developmental psychology today 6th edn,
Random House, 1994
- Any current and high quality introductory psychology textbook.
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