MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Medicine Handbook 1996

Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996


MED3051 + MED3052

Clinical and communication skills II

Dr M Kidd (Community Medicine)

Objectives The aims of this subject are (1) to continue the introduction commenced in second year on the basic elements of taking a medical history, specifically focusing on the neurological, genitourinary, sexual, drug and ENT components; (2) to give the student the opportunity to continue to develop skills of physical examination; (3) to further develop the student's training in communication skills and apply them in clinical situations; (4) to integrate closely the theoretical information taught in the parallel third year subjects; and (5) to provide the students with relevant clinical experiences through a series of visits to general practice, obstetrics and gynaecology units and a community pharmacy.

Synopsis Semester one. This subject continues the introduction commenced in second year on medical history taking and physical examination. There will be three major components: medical contact visits, clinical skills sessions and continuation of the family case study project. Contact visits and clinical skills sessions will focus on the neurological, genitourinary and musculoskeletal system and taking a drug history. There will also be a clinical contact visit relating to obstetric and gynaecological health care. Semester two. Students will learn how to conduct a mental-state examination and will receive training in more advanced communication skills issues. Students will receive patient-based teaching of history taking and physical examination skills in a hospital setting. Communication skills teaching will include videotaping of student consultations with simulated patients and exercises in multicultural communication. Clinical contact visits will look at communication skills used in diagnosis and patient management, as well as teaching on communicating with the intellectually disabled and the elderly. Tutorials will be held on mental-state examination as well as patient-based training in communication skills required for dealing with emotionally, behaviourally and cognitively disturbed patients and their families.

Assessment Examination (first semester) oral: 40% + Tutor assessment (first semester): 5% + Family case study report: 10% + Tutorials (bedside teaching): 15% + Examination (mental state) 2 hrs: 15% + Tutorials (second semester): 15%

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