MD2001 Foundations of Medicine 1

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

60

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Available only to students enrolled in the BSc Honours Medicine programme.

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr A Hughes

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Siobhan Lynch

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The medical course takes the form of an integrated spiral curriculum, where teaching in all relevant subjects is delivered grouped holistically or by systems and revisited with increasing complexity throughout the course. Foundations of Medicine 1 and 2 form the initial turn of the spiral in which fundamentally important knowledge is reviewed. During subsequent turns of the spiral, the topics covered in these two modules will be revisited at a more advanced level and with increasing clinical application. A series of core, introductory clinical cases illustrates the clinical context throughout Foundations of Medicine 1 and 2. Foundations of Medicine 1 provides a general overview of the structure and functions of the body systems from the microscopic to the macroscopic level: reviews molecular and cellular medicine; gives a preliminary introduction to medical ethics and communication skills relevant to medicine; uses clinical problems to develop an understanding of the levels of consciousness and the assessment of health status. The module also includes an anatomical overview of the major body systems and the dissection of the back.

Assessment pattern

25% Coursework , 75% Exam

Re-assessment

100% exam

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

On average 10 lectures and 6 hours of seminars/tutorials/practicals each week. Clinical case studies, clinical and communication skills on a 2-week cycle including sessions with patient partners which may be virtual in nature. Up to 6 hours per week of directed self-learning

Scheduled learning hours

200

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

400

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Describe the basic structure and normal function of all the major body systems
  • Describe the basic cellular and molecular functions of discrete tissue types and cellular components
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to undertake a range of clinical and communication skills (e.g. gathering information, handwashing, basic life support, blood pressure)
  • Discuss the fundamentals of good clinical practice (e.g. regulatory frameworks, professionalism, medical ethics, evidence-based medicine)
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of dissection instruments and techniques to complement the concepts of anatomy
  • Describe the various immunological responses the body mounts against discrete pathogenic infections