Aim and Content

Aim:

Introduction to the knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies of general practice.

Contents:

General practice is the study of how to take care of diseases and illnesses as they present in primary health care. From a medical perspective the general practitioner provides an integrating service, where personal and continuous health care for the individual and his/her family is based on a biological, psychological and social understanding. The course includes clinical diagnostics, treatment, follow-up and prevention, both of health problems that are treated entirely in general practice and of conditions that demand cooperation between different parts of the health care system. Other important disciplines are clinical communication, the consultation and use of the doctor-patient-relationship as a tool. The societal characteristics of general practice and the general practitioner`s exceptional insight in families and local communities are also highlighted.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the student should have knowledge about

- the thinking and methods characteristic of general practice

- the tasks and responsibilities of the general practitioner

- the life cycle and its consequences for health

- effective measures to promote health and prevent disease and loss of function

Skills:

After completing the course, the student should be able to

- use patient centered consultation approaches where clinical communication, structuring of the consultation and the doctor-patient relationship are essential

- involve patients and relatives in the diagnostic process and in plans for treatment and follow-up

General skills:

After completing the course, the student should

- understand general practice as a low-threshold service for all kinds of health problems, and the general practitioners role as a coordinator of different health services based on the continuity of the doctor-patient relationship

- have insight in the interaction between different agents in primary health care and specialist health care

- have insight in common ethical problems that doctors meet in general practice

- understand and be able to reflect on the fallibility of medicine and of health professionals

Course offered (semester)

Autumn and spring

Course Unit Level

Medicine (Integrated profession study- Cand.med.-degree programme)

Teaching Methods

The teaching involves both student centered teaching, where the students are required to be active contributors based on dialogue and reflection, and more traditional lectures.

Assessment methods

Compulsory written assignments are evaluated as pass/fail. 70 % of the total number of assignments must be satisfactorily answered to pass the course

Grading Scale

Pass/fail