MDCS42120 Contemporary Issues in PC & GP

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module focuses on latest developments in the clinical care of common conditions affecting patients attending general practice and primary care. The module will involve a series of Masterclasses on common acute and chronic conditions affecting patients in this setting and issues relating to healthcare delivery in primary care.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the module, a student should be able to demonstrate
* A thorough knowledge and understanding of best practice in the assessment and treatment of common issues in a primary care setting;
* An understanding of the limits of their professional roles, responsibilities, competence, and the need to seek advice/refer when appropriate when treating. Applying knowledge and understanding
* Students will learn to apply this knowledge and understanding to improve their competence and competence in clinical practice. Making judgements
* Demonstrate a critical engagement with decision-making frameworks and processes in primary care contexts. Students will improve their clinical assessment capabilities, clinical problem-solving capabilities and clinical decision making, especially in regard to risk assessment.
Communications and working skills
* Students will engage in effective intra and inter professional working with healthcare colleagues.
* Emphasis will also be placed on communication skills reinforcing the primary goal of the School to produce competent, caring practitioners with an ability to convey complex messages to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Learning skills
* Throughout the course, students will engage in group and autonomous learning exercises, designed to reinforce an evidence-based approach to the management of a variety of common problems in a primary care setting.

Indicative Module Content:

Module delivery will involve: Self-directed learning material delivered, webinars (note: these will be recorded to accommodate those students unable to attend at this time) and (if public health considerations permit) in person seminars / workshops.

This activity will address topics such as:
* Common Mental Health Problems in Primary Care
* Common Emergencies in PC
* Clinical Therapeutics
* Type 2 Diabetes & Endocrinology
* Cardiovascular Disease
* Respiratory Disease.



Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

7

Seminar (or Webinar)

7

Specified Learning Activities

16

Autonomous Student Learning

100

Online Learning

70

Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The series of seminars and webinars on core topics will guide students in core knowledge acquisition. Where possible, students will be encouraged to use their previous experience (practical, clinical) in learning to acquire knowledge through self-direction. Enquiry-based methods will be used to encourage critical thinking, analysis and problem solving.
Case based learning and group work / discussions will encourage the integration of knowledge across modules that consider structure, function, disease and patient care.






 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Applicants should:
• Hold an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (e.g. Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Emergency Medical Sciences etc.)
• Possess an equivalent professional qualification, or
• Have relevant clinical experience in primary care, nursing or related disciplines


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Attendance at, and satisfactory participation in, scheduled educational activities during the module. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

50

Portfolio: Case reports related to module content Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

50


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive feedback on their continuous assessment activities, which will include attendance at webinars and seminars / workshops. These will involve participation in small group discussions and practicing communication and clinical skills. Where relevant, students will be observed practicing these skills and feedback will be given. The online learning platform will incorporate quizzes with automated online feedback. Individual feedback will be given to students on their graded assignments, e.g. case reports.

Murtagh General Practice. Murtagh, Rosenblatt, Murtagh, Coleman. McGraw Hill, 2021.

Oxford Handbook of General Practice. Simon, Everitt, Van Dorp, Hussain, Nash, Peet. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2020.

Practical General Practice: Guidelines for Effective Clinical Management. Staten. Staten (Ed), Elsevier Health Sciences, London, 2019.
Name Role
Dr Nia Clendennen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Joseph Gallagher Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Regina Lennon Lecturer / Co-Lecturer