Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module HEAS40915: PROFESSIONALISM IN MEDICAL EDUCATION

Department: Health [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

HEAS40915: PROFESSIONALISM IN MEDICAL EDUCATION

Type Open Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2011/12 Module Cap None.

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop a good practical understanding of the importance and measurement of non-cognitive properties in medical education.

Content

  • Learning theories that are important in medical education
  • Historical development of professionalism measures
  • Can professionalism be taught?
  • The role of role modelling
  • Formal, informal and hidden curricula
  • Personal Qualities Assessment
  • Methods for measurement of attitudes
  • Validity and reliability in challenging settings
  • Tools and instruments in use in the UK and internationally
  • Professional revalidation in the UK and internationally
  • Future developments

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of module students will have developed:
  • Critical appreciation of the literature on professionalism assessment
  • An advanced knowledge and critical understanding of the psychometric properties of professionalism measures
  • An awareness of the role of professionalism measures in revalidation of medical practitioners
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students will have gained skills in:
  • Practical development and use of professionalism measures
  • Interpretation of the outcomes of standard tools
  • The ability to integrate professionalism measures with other assessment modalities
Key Skills:
  • The capacity for sustained interprofessional learning and work at an advanced level and the ability to learn through reflection on practice and experience
  • The ability to communicate effectively across specialised subject and professional areas;
  • Enhanced personal effectiveness: advanced skills of self-awareness, time management including working to deadlines, sensitivity to diversity in people and different situations and the ability to sustain learning;
  • The ability to select and use appropriate advanced numerical techniques.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lecturing - Explains basic principles in a way that allows learners to build their own understanding - Examines challenges in the literature, not readily resolvable by novices - Provides motivation to learners
  • Tutorials and seminars - Allow students to work through concepts in more detail, providing both teacher and peer led input, promoting discussion and developing the interprofessional communication and working skills
  • Structured reading - Allows students to pursue topics in greater detail enabling both familiarity with key texts and a deeper understanding of the subject knowledge generally
  • Practical sessions - Provide practical guidance and experience in professionalism measures design and development
  • Independent study, research and analysis - Focuses student knowledge more deeply by pursuing aspects of the module that are of special interest to themselves.
  • Written assessment permits demonstration of students' conceptual and critical understanding, ability to marshal arguments and present them in a written format in a sound and convincing fashion, and to reflect upon the meaning and measures of professionalism in medicine from an educative context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lecture 10 weekly 1 hr 10
Tutorial/seminar 10 weekly 1 hr 30 mins 15
Structured Reading 10 sets weekly 3 hrs 30
Practical exercises 3 Occasionally 2 6
Library researching/Independent study Student initiated Student determined 89
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written work Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 3000 words 100% assignment

Formative Assessment:

Written comments on presentation in class.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University