BMBS Medicine Year 1
| Module title | BMBS Medicine Year 1 |
|---|---|
| Module code | MDC1001 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 120 |
| Module staff | Professor Alison Curnow (Convenor) Dr Rob Taylor (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 218 |
|---|
Module description
The first year of your BMBS medical degree is an exciting introduction to the world of modern clinical practice and you will develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that will underpin the rest of your working life as a medical professional. You will work across three integrated assessment themes: Medical Knowledge, Clinical Practice and Special Study Units.
In addition to studying medical sciences (covering the principles, method and knowledge of biomedical, psychological, sociological and population health sciences), you will learn about person-centred and patient-centred communication, core clinical skills such as history-taking and examination as well as professional and ethical behaviours. You will also begin to develop skills that will help you to work effectively within teams in a modern clinical environment, for example, time management, reflection, and the giving and receiving of feedback.
You will also start the journey towards academic and research excellence at this early stage of your career. You will be given the opportunity to study areas of interest to you, in-depth, supervised by a specialist who works in your chosen area of study. You will be encouraged to develop research and critical thinking skills, and identify questions and find answers that are relevant to medical science, as it relates to modern clinical practice.
You will be provided with an interesting programme of lectures, in addition to a variety of small group sessions, including those where problem based learning is utilised as a tool to develop knowledge and team-work. You will be provided with ample opportunity to practice your new skills in simulated and authentic clinical settings.
Even as a first year student, you will have access to the experience and knowledge of medical and other health professionals, and active researchers. You will work closely with these professionals in the Clinical Skills Resource Centre, the Life Sciences Resource Centre, the Professional Development sessions and while on clinical placements.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module focusses on three integrated areas of study that will allow you to acquire and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are expected of a first year medical student, and that underpin modern clinical and academic practice. The aims of the three areas of study are outlined, as follows.
Medical Knowledge
You will be taught how to demonstrate the integrated application of the medical sciences (biomedical, psychological, sociological and population health) that underpin medical practice.
Clinical Practice
You will be taught the basic life support, core clinical, and communication skills, including clinical history and examination, that are required in modern clinical practice and that are based on patient-centred communication.
Special Study Units (SSUs)
You will develop academic skills that are relevant to a clinical environment, including an introduction to research, critical thinking, written and verbal communication. You will be encouraged to identify important questions about medical practice and study in-depth an area of interest to you that is relevant to the areas of biomedical sciences and healthcare, as these relate to modern clinical practice.
Professionalism and Fitness to Practise:
In addition to these three integrated assessment themes you will be supported in the acquisition of professional and ethical behaviours and skills, with person-centred and patient-centred approaches relating to your development in reflective practice, team working, time-management, issues of consent, and giving and receiving feedback.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Apply to medical practice the biomedical scientific principles, method and knowledge, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 22 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 2. Apply psychological principles, method and knowledge to medical practice, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 23 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 3. Apply social science principles, method and knowledge to medical practice, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 24 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 4. Apply to medical practice the principles, method and knowledge of population health and the improvement of health and sustainable healthcare, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 25 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 5. Communicate effectively, openly and honestly with patients, advocates and colleagues, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 10 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 6. Carry out an effective consultation with a patient, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 11 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 7. Work collaboratively with patients and colleagues to diagnose and manage clinical presentations safely, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 12 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 8. Perform diagnostic, therapeutic and practical procedures safely and effectively, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 13 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 9. Work collaboratively with patients, advocates and colleagues to make clinical judgements and holistic decisions, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 14 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 10. Make appropriate clinical judgements for patients who are nearing or are at end of life, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 15 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 11. Provide immediate care in medical emergencies, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 16 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 12. Recognise when a patient is deteriorating and take appropriate action, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 17 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 13. Prescribe medications safely, appropriately, effectively and economically, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 18 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 14. Recognise and identify factors that suggest that a patient is vulnerable, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 7 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 15. Use information effectively and safely in a medical context, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 2, Point 19 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 16. Demonstrate how patient care is delivered in the health service, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 20 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 17. Recognise there are differences in healthcare systems across the four nations of the UK, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 21 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 18. Apply scientific method and approaches to medical research, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 3, Point 26 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 19. Behave in accordance with Good Medical Practice (General Medical Council) making care of patients their first concern, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 1 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 20. Behave according to ethical and professional principles, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 2 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 21. Demonstrate awareness of the importance of their personal physical and mental wellbeing, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 3 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 22. Demonstrate knowledge of the legal framework of medicine, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 4 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 23. Demonstrate that they can practise safely and improve care, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 5 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 24. Recognise complexity and uncertainty, learning to manage these situations as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 6 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 25. Recognise the role of doctors in contributing to the management and leadership of the health service, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 8 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
- 26. Learn and work effectively within a multi-professional team, as appropriate for this level of study (Outcome 1, Point 9 in Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018).
Syllabus plan
Year 1 of the BMBS programme comprises 8 study units (each lasting 3 weeks) and 3 SSUs (each lasting 3 weeks). Plus two weeks of BMBS induction and one catch up study/assessment week.
In each study unit your learning will centre about a medical scenario that will be explored within your Problem Based Learning (PBL) group and supported by your learning in lectures, the Life Sciences Resource Centre (LSRC), Clinical Skills Resource Centre (CSRC), on clinical placements and in your Professional Development Groups (PDG). In SSU weeks you will work to a schedule proposed by the SSU facilitator, exploring a topic of your choice in more depth and learning research-like skills.
The academic content of the module is aligned with the outcomes as specified within Outcomes for Graduates (General Medical Council) 2018:
Outcome 1: Professional Values and Behaviours
Professional and ethical responsibilities
Legal responsibilities
Patient safety and quality improvement
Dealing with complexity and uncertainty
Safeguarding vulnerable patients
Leadership and team working
Outcome 2: Professional Skills
Communication and interpersonal skills
Diagnosis and medical management
Prescribing medications safely
Using information effectively and safely
Outcome 3: Professional Knowledge
The health service and healthcare systems in the four countries
Applying biomedical scientific principles
Applying psychological principles
Applying social science principles
Health promotion and illness prevention
Clinical research and scholarship
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 371 | 797 | 32 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 160 | Lectures (96 hours) Consolidation/WRAP sessions (16 hours) and Problem Based Learning Sessions (48 hours) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 28 | Professional Development Group Sessions and portfolio |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 38 | Clinical Skills Resource Centre sessions |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 96 | Biomedical Science and Anatomy sessions |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 49 | SSU Delivery sessions (32 hours) and Making Sense of Evidence (17 hours) sessions |
| Placement | 32 | Clinical Placements |
| Guided Independent Study | 410 | Guided reading and preparation for taught sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | 355 | Preparation for SSUs (249 hours) and other assessment (106 hours) |
| Guided Independent Study | 32 | Preparation for placements |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formative Applied Medical Knowledge test x 2 (AMK; sitting annual papers 3 & 4) | 2 x multiple choice question single best answer assessments | 1-4, 9-17, 22 | Individual results/breakdowns and cohort comparison detail provided online |
| Formative Mini Knowledge Tests | Online end of study unit test to be undertaken independently by student in own time | 1-4, 9-17,22 | Online feedback |
| Formative feedback on clinical competence (observed during sessions in the Clinical Skills Resource Centre and during placements) | As appropriate to the clinical skill being assessed | 1-17, 19-20, 22-26 | Verbal feedback |
| Formative GP Observed Clinical Skills Examinations (OSCEs; observed during GP placements) | 2 x GP OSCEs, time as appropriate to the clinical skill being assessed | 1-17, 19-20, 22-26 | Verbal feedback followed by written results |
| Formative Special Study Unit (SSU1; first SSU of Year 1) Report & Presentation | 1 x 2000 word report and 1 x 10 minute narrated PowerPoint presentation | 1-5, 15-20, 22-26 | Pass/fail decision, score and written feedback available online |
| Professionalism Judgements (PJ) | ~13; 10 compulsory judgements from a variety of assessors based on observations of professional behaviours in scheduled teaching sessions (e.g. 2 x PBL + 2 x PDG + 2 x Portfolio + 1 x GP placement + 3 x SSUs). In addition, 3 Locality Professionalism Judgements will be given considering attendance (as detailed in the Attendance Policy) and any additional 'On the Spot' feedback forms received. These judgements may trigger a Fitness to Practise enquiry and therefore may have significant implications on student progression. | All | Written feedback, available online |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 33.33 | 33.34 | 33.33 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Knowledge Examinations | 33.34 | 1 x Mid Year Test (25%) and 1 x End of Year Test (75%) | 1-4, 9-17, 22 | Grades presented online showing performance within individual disciplines and offering comparison with overall cohort scoring |
| Objective Clinical Skills Examinations (OSCEs) | 33.33 | 3 x OSCEs, time as appropriate to the clinical skill being assessed | 1-17, 19-20, 22-26 | Pass/fail decision, score and written feedback available online |
| Special Study Unit 2 and 3 | 33.33 | 1 x 2000 word report and 1 x 10 minute narrated PowerPoint presentation | 1-5, 15-20, 22-26 | Pass/fail decision, score and written feedback available online |
| Fitness to Practise | 0 | The Fitness to Practise Panel in accordance with University of Exeter Policy and Procedures for Fitness to Practise will consider/determine the Fitness to Practise of each student as follows: Fit to Practise Fitness to Practise in Question & Subject to Review Not Fit to Practise Any student deemed Not Fit to Practise medicine in accordance with University of Exeter Policy and Procedures for Fitness to Practise will not be able to progress on the BMBS programme. | All | Written and verbal feedback in accordance with University of Exeter Policy and Procedures for Fitness to Practise |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| For deferred students, see notes, below | |||
| For referred students, all original assessments | As for original assessment | As for original assessment | During the referral year (the following academic year) |
Re-assessment notes
Students, please note that your medical degree is a pass/fail award, and the traditional classification system does not apply. The percentages referred to in the summative assessment table (above) should be used as a guide to indicate the amount of work required for each type of assessment. You must pass each 'form of assessment' (column 1 in the summative assessment table, above) and be deemed “Fit to Practise” or “Fitness to Practise in Question & Subject to Review” by the Fitness to Practise Panel in order to pass this module, and therefore progress to the next year of the programme.
AMK grades are based on percentiles within the cohort. Each AMK test result is graded on a formative basis in Year 1. The Mid-Year and End of Year Tests pass marks are set via Angoff and are weighted 25% and 75% respectively. Those students who do not achieve the final combined passing score, will be offered a second opportunity via a resit examination within the academic year, at an interval of approximately 3 weeks. Progression in the Medical Knowledge component of assessment is dependent solely on performance in the Year 1 Tests, as detailed in the Assessment Handbook.
All clinical skills are assessed in clinical skills facilities or whilst undertaking GP placements. They are assessed by trained core teaching staff, as well as honorary staff, all of whom are registered healthcare professionals. Students will be expected to demonstrate each mastery clinical skill to a satisfactory level with additional progress support. Progression in the Clinical Practice component of assessment is dependent on passing the summative OSCEs, as detailed in the Assessment Handbook. Should they require it, students will be offered a further opportunity via a resit OSCE.
Progression in the Special Study Units component of assessment is dependent on passing both summative SSU themes. Should they require it, students will be offered one SSU resubmission opportunity, as detailed in the Assessment Handbook.
Judgements of your professionalism will be made by a range of teachers, tutors and placement supervisors, in order to obtain a range of perspectives and feedback. The combination of these may trigger a Fitness to Practise enquiry and therefore may have significant implications on student progression. SSUs are also assessed by both University-employed staff and external medical or allied to medicine professionals.
All students who receive a less than satisfactory grade in any summative assessment will be automatically offered remediation and support by an appropriate member of staff within 15 academic days of the mark release date.
For some individual elements of the assessments listed in the table above (i.e. clinical mastery skills), students are provided with multiple opportunities to demonstrate competence or remediate to a satisfactory level. Further information can be found on the UEMS intranet. Attempts at the elements of assessments are not counted as ‘referrals’ (second attempts following failure), but are instead opportunities to demonstrate competence and engage with remediation. A pass mark for each assessment theme (Medical Knowledge, Clinical Practice and Special Study Units) is usually determined by the aggregated scores of the individual elements that contribute to that assessment.
For deferred students who have had their extenuating circumstances validated, UEMS will endeavour, where possible given timetables and circumstances, to ensure those students are able to submit individual elements of an assessment within the academic year, in order that the student has a complete assessment profile. Where it is not possible for a deferred student with valid extenuating circumstances to have a complete assessment profile, an adjusted profile may be submitted to the Assessment Theme Panel where it will be decided if the student has attained an aggregated pass mark for the overarching assessment theme (Medical Knowledge, Clinical Practice and Special Study Units) and whether progression to the next year of the programme will be recommended to Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committee.
Students who fail to reach an aggregated pass for any overarching assessment theme (Medical Knowledge, Clinical Practice or Special Study Units), will fail the module overall and are therefore dealt with as referred students, and are given the opportunity to be re-assessed for this module in the following academic year. Referred students must repeat all teaching and assessment in the following academic year, and must gain a pass through their aggregated scores for all overarching assessments (Medical Knowledge, Clinical Practice and Special Study Units) to pass the module in their referred year.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading available at http://sites.google.com/exeter.ac.uk/bmbshomepage/home
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – please see the UEMS intranet available at http://sites.google.com/exeter.ac.uk/bmbshomepage/home
Web based and electronic resources available at http://sites.google.com/exeter.ac.uk/bmbshomepage/home
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Other resources available at http://sites.google.com/exeter.ac.uk/bmbshomepage/home
| Credit value | 120 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 60 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 30/11/2012 |
| Last revision date | 20/04/2023 |
