MEDI5012

Psychiatry/Primary Health Care Selective

20 Units 5000 Level Course

Not available in 2014

Previously offered in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005

In relation to psychiatry the course is a type of clinical apprenticeship. Students will be expected to attend all functions of the unit to which they are attached, including participating in ward rounds, clinical clerking of patients, and other unit activities. There will be regular discussion of issues pertaining to diagnosis and treatment of patients with registrars and consultant psychiatrists. Students will learn how to identify, assess and manage common psychiatric disorders and psychosocial problems.

In relation to the primary health care selective, students will work primarily in rural and urban centres with community health staff and general practitioners focusing on the management of chronic illness and disability in the community. This course is offered in both Semester IX and Semester X, on a rotating basis. Full-time students who enrol in Psychiatry/Primary Health Care Selective must enrol concurrently in Medicine. In exceptional circumstances, such as when a student fails one of the concurrent courses, enrolments outside of these concurrent arrangements may be approved by the Head of School.

This course is a Compulsory Program Component and students must pass in order to complete the Bachelor of Medicine program.

Objectives By the end of the course, the student will demonstrate the following attributes, to a level similar to that of an intern:
Understanding of:

1. The aetiology, pathology, symptoms and signs, natural history and prognosis of common mental ailments in children, adolescents, adults and the aged. A more detailed knowledge is required of those conditions that require urgent assessment and treatment.
2. Common diagnostic procedures in relation to psychiatry including their uses and limitations.
3. Management of common psychiatric conditions
4. Understand the doctor's role within the context of the primary health system
5. Management of common conditions encountered in general practice and primary health care
6. The role of the general practitioner and the primary health care team in chronic care
7. The impact of social context on health care, with particular focus on health care in a rural community
8. Understand the effect of cultural, physical, language, religious, education and economic backgrounds on patient's access to and communication with the primary health care team as outlined in the Alma Ata

Skills:

1. The capacity to obtain an accurate, problem-oriented, tactful and organised medical history in relation to psychiatry and the general practice consultation.
2. The capacity to perform an accurate, problem-oriented, tactful and organised physical and mental state examination.
3. The capacity to interpret and integrate the history and physical examination findings to arrive at an appropriate diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and to identify the personal and social problems to which the illness may give rise in relation to psychiatry and the general practice/community health setting.
4. The capacity to formulate a plan addressing the investigation and management of the patient's illness in relation to psychiatry and the general practice/community health setting, and the personal and social problems to which the illness may give rise.
5. An appreciation of the importance of taking into account the values and preferences of the patient when considering the investigation and management of illness in relation to psychiatry and the general practice/community health setting, and of the need, in all cases, to plan management in concert with the patient.
6. The capacity to convey and receive information in a manner appropriate to the primary health care setting, including colleagues, other health providers and patients.
7. The ability to function in the primary health care team, involving collaboration and cooperation with other team members and understanding the role of each member.

Appropriate professional attitudes:
At the end of the course, the student shall demonstrate to a level similar to that of an intern, an understanding of:

1. the principles of ethics related to health care and shall demonstrate the capacity to apply those principles to the care of patients and the legal responsibilities, particularly with respect to patients with psychiatric illness.
2. the factors that affect the quality and safety of health care.
3. how the cost of care may affect optimal patient care and the benefit to the community of available resources.
4. the interaction between the health of individuals and the well-being of populations.

The student's practice must take account of new knowledge
At the end of the course, students shall demonstrate, to a level similar to that of an intern, the capacity to evaluate and interpret medical evidence in relation to psychiatry and the general practice/rural community health setting, in a scientific manner and to use information sources to pursue independent inquiry.
Content Responsibilities and obligations under the Mental Health Act
Assessment, diagnosis and management of the psychiatric patient; acute and chronic
General treatment modalities; biological, psychological, social / community based.
Dual diagnosis and relationship between psychiatric illness and substance abuse

The Primary Health Care Selective course will consist of 4 weeks of experiential learning. Students will be placed in 1 to 3 primary health care settings one of which must include general practice, they may attend these serially or in parallel. Students will be expected to act as a member of the primary health care team as much as possible, and may take histories, perform physical examinations, develop management plans, participate in case conferences, do home visits and attend educational events within the level of their abilities, and under the general supervision of the team leader/GP.
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge This course is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine program. Students must have successfully completed the first four years of the Bachelor of Medicine program. Full time students enrolled in MEDI5012 must enrol concurrently in MEDI5011.
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Clinical
Problem Based Learning
Self Directed Learning
Tutorial
Assessment Items
Examination: Formal Psychiatry/Interactional Skills Objective Structured Clinical Examination
Group/tutorial participation and contribution Attendance and participation at the scheduled Interactional Skills sessions will be monitored.
Other: (please specify) Attendance and participation will be monitored throughout the course. Unsatisfactory attendance will be considered as unprofessional behaviour and may result in a student being unsatisfactory for this course.
Other: (please specify) PHCS Supervisor Rating Form and Dot Point Presentation
Other: (please specify) Psychiatry Logbook of Professional Skills
Other: (please specify) PHCS Student Contract
Presentations - Individual PHCS Student Presentation
Contact Hours Self Directed Learning: for 2 hour(s) per Week for 8 weeks
Tutorial: for 2 hour(s) per Week for 8 weeks
Clinical: for 30 hour(s) per Week for 8 weeks
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment The enrolment is limited by the program enrolment in B Med.

Students must have successfully completed the first 4 years of the B Med program.