UWA Handbook 2024

Unit Overview

Description

This unit is taken over two semesters and parts 1 and 2 must be completed to fulfil the requirements of the unit. The unit is a six-week medicine clerkship and a two-week cancer attachment. The medical attachment at Level 5 consists of a six-week clinical attachment and a theory program. The Level 5 units build on the skills gained in Level 4 units and expand students' problem-solving and diagnostic skills. Skills in assessment of patients and developing an appropriate management plan for most patients, focusing on common and important conditions, are taught. The unit focuses on problem solving and clinical reasoning; formulation of problem lists including differential diagnosis; knowledge of the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests; problem-oriented patient management and communication with patient, family and colleagues. Formal clinical teaching occurs in bedside tutorials, ward rounds and with outpatients. During the six-week medicine clerkship, students are also expected to complete five online case studies which encompass five different medical specialties. The format of the case studies allows students to practise their clinical reasoning skills as history, examination and results of diagnostic tests are presented sequentially in much the same way as occurs in real-life clinical situations. Formal tutorials by specialist medical staff covering a range of topics are given on a weekly basis on Wednesday afternoons at Fremantle Hospital. Students are encouraged to work closely with their medical and/or subspecialty teams and are expected to spend about 70 per cent of their time on the wards seeing patients and practising their clinical skills. About 30 per cent of their time should be spent doing online case studies, attending formal tutorials on Wednesday afternoons and in private study. The cancer module is an integrated two-week attachment focusing on the science and practice of the diagnosis, management and prevention of cancer involving the disciplines of medical oncology, radiation oncology and malignant haematology. It consists of a clinical attachment in oncology units in hospitals and a problem-based learning stream (Science and Practice of Medicine), supplemented by formal lectures or tutorials.

Credit

6 points

Outcomes

Students (1) acquire further experience in history taking and physical examination and learn to formulate differential diagnoses and develop problem-solving skills in clinical medicine; (2) broaden their knowledge of various medical conditions and their diagnosis and treatment; and (3) improve their skills in diagnosis, management and prevention of cancer.

Assessment

During the medicine attachment, this comprises a group presentation exercise (groups of seven or eight students each give a seven-minute presentation of a patient clerked earlier that day, followed by the examiner spending three minutes exploring issues arising from the case with each student), review of their logbook of patients clerked and one ward presentation of a case to a consultant with an observed system examination. These items contribute 80 per cent to the overall mark for the attachment. The unit consultant completes a student evaluation at the end of each term. All students are required to satisfactorily pass their clinical assessment. The cancer module comprises a ward rating and case report and a written evidence-based medicine project. These items contribute 20 per cent to the overall mark for the attachment. A core knowledge multidisciplinary written examination [multiple-choice questions (MCQ), extended-matching questions (EMQ) and short-answer questions (SAQ)] is held in November.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Paula Johnson (Medicine) and Clinical Professor Joanna Dewar (Cancer)