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Scottish Doctors 2

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Scottish Doctors 3

Learning Outcomes for Basic, Social and Clinical Sciences and Underlying Principles

Level 1 - How the doctor approaches their practice

Level 2 - Outcomes for Basic, Social and Clinical Sciences and Underlying Principleslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

The competent graduate recognises, explains and manages health problems using the principles of current scientific knowledge and understanding that underpin medicine.

Level 3

This could include: Level 4

Normal structure and function of the individual as an intact organism and of each of its major organ systemslink to Tomorrows doctors

Anatomy, physiology, psychology/psychiatry, biochemistry, genetics.

Molecular, biochemical, cellular and immunological mechanisms that are important in maintaining homeostasis

The life cyclelink to Tomorrows doctors

The different stages and how these affect normal structure and function e.g. the foetus; the neonate / infant; childhood; adolescence; adulthood; old age; death.

Behaviour and relationships between an individual and his/her:
Family / partners
Immediate social groups
Society at large and the general population
Physical environment
Health professionals
Responses to illnesslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

Behavioural sciences, psychology and sociologylink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

Beliefs and understanding of health and illnesslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

Study of cultural and ethnic influences on health carelink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

The role of complementary medicine

The mechanisms of diseases and the ways in which these diseases affect the body (pathogenesis)link to Tomorrows doctors

Knowledge and understanding of the following causes of disease: genetic, developmental, metabolic, toxic, microbiological, autoimmune, neoplastic, degenerative, traumatic, environmental, social, occupational.

The alteration in structure and function of the body and its major organ systems resulting from various diseases and conditionslink to Tomorrows doctors

Appropriate pathology and pathophysiology.

Pharmacological principles of treatment using drugslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Mechanisms of action / interaction.

Side effects / adverse reactions.

Principles of therapeutic measures in the management and symptomatic relief of diseaseslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

Drugs, surgery, radiotherapy, complementary therapies.

Evidence base for use of therapeutic measures.

Public healthlink to Tomorrows doctors

Knowledge and understanding of scientific reasoning in the practice of public health in the NHS.

Principles of healthcare planning, prioritisation of service and communicable disease control.

Health economicslink to Tomorrows doctors

Knowledge and understanding of basic concepts including the cost of patient management to NHS, other care systems and society and rationing.

Disease preventionlink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctorslink to Tomorrows doctors

Knowledge and understanding of causes of disease and evidence of causes.

Disease aetiology and relationships between risk factors and disease – high risk approach and population approach

Epidemiologylink to Tomorrows doctors

Knowledge and understanding of principles of demography, biological variability and clinical trials.

Educationlink to Tomorrows doctors

Knowing about and applying basic theories of learning and teaching.

Basic organisation of medical teaching and training in the UK.

Specific Issues

The assessment should seek to validate the core knowledge and principles of basic, social and clinical science, which are essential for medical practice as a PRHO and as a subsequent foundation for future professional development.

The assessment of this outcome should ensure that graduates are able to achieve integration of basic, social and clinical science in a clinical context and the process of medical care. It is highly desirable for the chosen assessments(s) to be capable of detailed item analysis and subsequent measures of reliability.

It is essential that any assessments(s) for this outcome are able reliably to separate competent from non-competent students. Given the core nature of the material under this outcome a high level of achievement should be required.

The assessment of this outcome should include both formative and summative methods, and continuous and discrete items of assessment. Local applicability will determine which types are most appropriate at different points of the curriculum.

Assessment instruments such as a Progress Test have been shown to be able to fulfill this role in a number of curriculum styles.

Assessment Instruments considered appropriate to assess or contribute to the assessment of this outcome include objective types, such as MCQ and EMI; and free response types, such as MEQ, CRQ, very short answer questions, essays, work books, progress testing and portfolios.

Sharing of assessment resources, such as a central bank of objective test items, stored with information on their item analysis/reliability, would be of benefit to the Scottish medical schools.

Recommended reliable and valid methods of assessment for this outcome include:
MCQ
EMI
MEQ
CRQ
Essay

Potential new methods of assessment include:
Central bank of objective test items
Assessing medical evidence workbook
Progress test
Portfolios