Foundations of Medicine

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate appropriate numeracy skills in the calculation and interpretation of quantitative scientific and clinical data
• Discuss biological, psychological and sociological concepts of health, illness and disease.
• Describe basic principles underlying the use of drugs and other interventions in the prevention, diagnosis, cure and management of disease
• Explain the cellular and molecular principles by which the normal body structures and functions may be altered by disease
• Describe the range of intrinsic and external factors (genetic, social, environmental, occupational, behavioural and nutritional) that can influence health
• Relate fundamental knowledge of anatomical and histological structures to the physiology and pathology of specific body systems
• Describe the normal biological functions of the human body at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, system, psychological and social levels

The module is based around the following subjects and themes, with additional symposia which bring multiple subjects together and help students make links in their learning. Please refer to Blackboard for more detail and associated resources.

Anatomy / Histology

• Introduction to gross anatomy
• Introduction to embryology (germ layers and differentiation)
• Introduction to microanatomy
• Introduction to imaging

Clinical Pharmacology

• Introduction to pharmacological principles
• Autonomic nervous system pharmacology
• Basic pharmacokinetics

Genetics

• DNA structure and replication
• RNA processing and translation
• Protein structure and enzymes
• Regulation of gene expression
• Biomembranes & Ion transport
• Carbohydrate metabolism
• Protein metabolism
• Lipid metabolism

Immunology

• Introduction to Immunology
• Immunity and infection

Microbiology & Infection

• Introduction to microbiology
• Viral and bacterial structures
• Colonisation and infection
• Skin and soft tissue infection
• Antibiotics and resistance
• Toxins and immunisation

Pathology

• Introduction to pathology
• Introduction to haematology
• Cell cycle and cell death
• Cellular adaptations
• Host defence and inflammation
• Tumour biology and neoplasia

Nutrition and Metabolism

• Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism
• The language of human nutrition
• What do we eat?
• Signal transduction and second messengers
• Supply and demand
• Enzymes
• Diagnostics
• Sensitivity and specificity
• Requirements
• Recommendations
• Nucleotide synthesis

Personal and Professional Development

• The duties of a doctor
• The individual nature of PPD
• Digital professionalism
• Becoming a reflective practitioner

Physiology

• Introduction to physiology
• Body fluids
• Ion distribution
• Cell to cell communication
• Physiology of the ANS
• Introduction to endocrinology
• Membrane potential
• Temperature regulation

Psychology (as applied to Medicine)

• Introduction to psychology in medicine
• Psychological interventions

Public Health

• Introduction to public health
• Global health and health inequalities
• Health Improvement and Health Policy

Sociology (as applied to Medicine)

• Introduction to sociology in medicine
• The role of Doctors and other Healthcare Professionals in society

Themes

• Teamworking, leadership and patient safety
• Communication
• Equality, diversity and inclusion

Skills

• First Aid & CPR
• Library resources and IT databases

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through a range of learning and teaching strategies which will include:

• Lecture
• Tutorials
• Practical sessions
• Guided self-study
• Problem solving scenarios
• Group work
• Portfolios
• eLearning
• Patient based learning

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Please see the Blackboard module page for current resources. and the full reading list for this module is available on the Library Online Reading List at http://soton.rl.talis.com/. The Blackboard pages for the Cardiopulmonary module include administrative information and all supplemental self-directed learning resources. The standard textbooks are found on the Recommended Reading List.

Assessment strategy

Students have an attempt at a set of formative exams (MCQ, written, and practical papers) at the end of Semester 1 for their learning as well as to familiarise themselves with the format and approach needed before the summative exams at the end of Year 1. At the end of year 1, there is a synoptic examination comprised of a Written paper, an MCQ paper and a Practical paper (components) covering material from Foundations of Medicine, Locomotor, and Cardiopulmonary modules. There is compensation between these three components, however, a qualifying mark needs to be achieved in each of the components. Students who fail any/all of these components will have a supplementary attempt which will consist of all three components. Students who fail the supplementary examination will be offered a repeat year.

Students also have an attempt at a set of formative exams (MCQ, written, and practical) at the end of Semester 1 to familiarise them with the format and approach needed before the summative exams at the end of Year 1.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.