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ME4022: SENIOR CLINICAL PRACTICE 4A (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

The Year 4 curriculum builds on the considerable breadth and depth of specialty knowledge of Years 1-3 systems-based teaching and provides the clinically based core learning required in Outcomes for Graduates (2018) for graduating doctors. Building on prior learning, Year 4 students will be able to apply their knowledge of basic physiology, anatomy, pharmacology and pathology to patients with a wide range of problems. The Year 4 curriculum is designed to ensure that students achieve the standards set by the GMC across a broad range of clinical settings and conditions. These experiences will enable students to increasingly contribute to the care of patients under supervision.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Full Year Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Clinical Lecturer (S Laura Gates

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • Medicine (ME)
  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The overarching objectives for the new Year 4 curriculum is that it is a clinically-based, person-centred learning experience that encourages students to:

 

  • Be active learners and enthusiastic, confident, resilient and reflective practitioners
  • Integrate and contextualise their prior learning within clinical settings
  • Deepen their understanding of safety, reasoning, complexity, uncertainty and risk
  • Focus on learning from and through work, both through signposted activities and also through experiential learning
  • Build understanding of team working and flexibility within a Health and Social Care integration context
  • Develop academic and leadership skills such that they may become more than competent practitioners
  • Strengthen understanding of social responsibility and of their personal role in its practical application

 

In Year 4, students develop their clinical reasoning, diagnostic and management skills for both individual patients and patient populations of all ages, with medical conditions affecting any of the body systems. Students undertake seven six-week clinical blocks with indicative thematic titles during which experience will be gained in many different clinical areas and disciplines including:

  • Acute medicine and critical care
  • Surgery and critical care
  • Reproductive and child health
  • General Practice
  • Long term conditions and integrated care
  • Mental Health
  • Diagnostics and student preference attachments

 

This course (clinical block) is the first of the seven clinical blocks (blocks 2-7 being Senior Clinical Practice 4B). At least one of these

clinical blocks will be undertaken in Inverness. However, students may choose to undertake the Remote and Rural option for all the blocks in Year 4, and these students will be based in Inverness for the year.

Five horizontal themes also arc across the curriculum: diagnostics, end of life care, health data science, quality improvement, cost and value of healthcare.

3rd sector/independent sector experiences provide unique opportunities for Year 4 medical students to gain practically acquired knowledge and first-hand experience of the complexities of patient journeys and vulnerable groups. This will enhance the student learning and personal development experience and help students to acquire a whole-person approach to health and illness. These elements may occur in the Long-term conditions and integrated care block, and other appropriate clinical blocks.

Students will also work through a number of online clinical cases which have been specifically developed as part of the Year 4 curriculum to help consolidate learning. In addition, students must maintain an electronic portfolio.  This will include a log of clinical cases seen in each clinical placement. The portfolio will form the basis for active and independent learning, providing the opportunity to practice reflection and self-evaluation. The electronic portfolio will be part of the end of block evaluation.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Short Answer Questions and Single Best Answer (MCQ) Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 47 Feedback Weeks 52

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Feedback

The end of year summative written paper will consist of:

2 single best answer papers, each 2 hours, total 180 questions

2 short answer question papers, each 2½ hours, total 18 questions

All 4 papers equally weighted for the written exam.

 

One paper each morning for 4 mornings.

The written paper must be passed independently of the clinical exam (objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)). Both must be passed in the same academic year in order to be eligible to proceed into the final year of the medicine programme.

All students receive individual personalised feedback on MyMBChB (virtual learning environment) within 3 working weeks of the examiners meeting.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 90
Assessment Weeks 1 Feedback Weeks 3

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Feedback

Low stakes end of block assessment for learning

Non-numerical grading: above/below/meets expectations

Feedback entered by tutor into portfolio

Along with other requirements such as attendance, professionalism, completion of compulsory online cases the block will be achieved or not achieved.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Clinical Practical Exam – The Objective Structured Clinical

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 48 Feedback Weeks 52

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Feedback

1.5 hours

Examination (OSCE) to assess clinical skills, knowledge and attitudes appropriate for the stage of training. This will consist of 9 eight-minute stations divided over 2 day

The OSCE must be passed independently of the written exam. Both must be passed in the same academic year in order to be eligible to proceed into the final year of the medicine programme.

 

Following the Exam Board, all students will receive their common grading scale (CGS) mark via student records.

 

All students will receive individual personalised feedback on MyMBChB (virtual learning environment) within 3 working weeks of the examiners meeting.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Clinical Procedural Skills Passport

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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The Clinical Procedural Skills Passport is used to document the student’s progress in achieving competence in the procedural skills, which the Competence and Curriculum Framework (General Medical Council‘s ‘Outcomes for Graduates’) required of medical students at graduation. These clinical procedural skills range from administering oxygen to taking blood to urinary catheterisation. The students complete the passport through Years 4 and 5 of the medical programme.

Immediate verbal and written feedback by clinical tutor

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

Short Answer Questions and Single Best Answer (MCQ) Questions

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks 20 Feedback Weeks 26

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Feedback

Paper includes both single best answer (SBA) questions and short answer questions (SAQ) aligned to the first four Clinical Senior Placements / blocks that the students will have undertaken.

Formative written paper held in Aberdeen and Inverness in the morning.

 

All students will receive their common grading scale (CGS) mark and individual personalised feedback on the virtual learning environment MyMBChB. This is in the form of their marks for each SAQ in the context of the pass mark and the total mark and, for the

SBAs, their percentage marks within specific topics.

 

Remediation Interviews in Aberdeen or Inverness will be arranged for students with difficulties which have arisen during the formative assessment.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Clinical Practical Exam

Assessment Type Formative Weighting
Assessment Weeks 20 Feedback Weeks 20

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Feedback

Formative Assessment with Feedback. There will be a 3-4 station clinical assessment similar to an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with eight-minute stations but as an assessment for learning.

The Formative Assessment with Feedback will be held in Aberdeen and Inverness.

 

For the Formative Assessment with Feedback the students receive verbal feedback after every station, and written feedback on the day.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Resit Assessments

Clinical Practical Exam - The Objective Structured Clinical

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 52 Feedback Weeks 3

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Feedback

Examination (OSCE). This will consist of 9 eight-minute stations and will run over 1 day.

The OSCE must be passed independently of the written exam. Both must be passed in the same calendar year in order to be eligible to proceed into the final year of the MBChB programme.

 

Following the Exam Board, all students will receive their common grading scale (CGS) mark via student records.

 

All students receive individual personalised feedback on MyMBChB (virtual learning environment) within 3 working weeks of the examiners meeting.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Short Answer Questions and Single Best Answer (MCQ) Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks 51 Feedback Weeks 3

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Feedback

The written paper includes both single best answer (SBA) questions and short answer questions (SAQ).

 

The resit written paper consists of:

2 single best answer papers, each 2 hours, total 180 questions

2 short answer question papers, each 2½ hours, total 18 questions

All 4 papers equally weighted for the written exam.

 

One paper each morning 2-2½ hours for 4 days

The written paper must be passed independently of the clinical exam (objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)). Both must be passed in the same calendar year in order to be eligible to proceed into the final year of the MBChB programme.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate appropriate personal and ethical professional values and behaviours in relation to confidentiality, respecting patients’ dignity and privacy, and recognising personal/professional limits
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate appropriate communication and interpersonal skills, team-working and leadership skills
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate the ability to carry out an effective consultation with a patient
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate the recognition, assessment and management of the acutely unwell patient
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate the recognition, assessment and management of patients with long term conditions
ProceduralApplyDemonstrate the safe performance of procedures
ConceptualAnalyseDemonstrate knowledge of medications by performing an accurate medication history, analysing the reason for each medication and analysing the risks and benefits of prescribing a new medication
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate application of biomedical scientific principles
ConceptualAnalyseUnderstand the application of psychological principles and the relationship between psychological and medical conditions and how psychological factors impact on risk and treatment outcome
ConceptualUnderstandExplain the principles underlying the development of health, heath service policy and clinical guidelines, including principles of health economics, equity, and sustainable healthcare
ConceptualUnderstandExplain the role of Health Data Science in healthcare and understand the role of information systems and data in individual and population-based health
ProceduralApplyDescribe the key role that diagnostic services play in health care and explain the rationale for investigation and treatment of disease and interpretation of test results
FactualUnderstandDescribe the principles of quality improvement and be aware of commonly used quality improvement methodologies
ProceduralEvaluateDescribe the principles of the palliative approach with the goal of achieving the best quality of life for patients and their families

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