Module: Health and Disease II

Module Code: MD 302

Academic Weighting: 15 Credits

Teaching Period: Year 3, Semester 1 (12 weeks)

Contributing Disciplines:Pathology, Bacteriology and Public Health & Health Promotion (PHHP)

Departmental Contributions: Total: 138 teaching hours (49% lectures, and 51% non-didactic sessions)

Lectures: Pathology 63%; Bacteriology 28%; Public Health and Health Promotion 9%

Non-didactic sessions: Pathology 52%; Bacteriology 34%; PHHP 14%

Module Director: Dr. Sharon Glynn, Associate Professor in Pathology. sharon.glynn@nuigalway.ie

 Module Description

Students will expand on the knowledge of H&D module I to understand common disease processes affecting various organ systems and their clinical implications in a multidisciplinary setting, incorporating expertise in Pathology, Bacteriology and Public Health. The content will provide knowledge of the biopsychosocial model of health and disease and students will learn to apply these principles to common clinical problems, presenting and answering questions on real clinical cases in a flipped classroom format. Building on a foundation of biomedical science the module will develop a basic understanding of the principles and latest techniques of forensic medicine. Students will become familiar with the role of the state pathologist, deaths to be reported to the coroner, the role of the autopsy, the inquest and death certification.

 Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module the learner will be able to:

Explain pathobiology and microbiology of diseases affecting central nervous system including the causes and effects of raised intracranial pressure,  stroke, head trauma, infection and neurodegenerative diseases.

Explain pathobiology and microbiology of diseases of the gastrointestinal system including infections, inflammatory conditions, common malabsorptive disorders, benign and malignant diseases.

Discuss diseases of hepatobiliary system and pancreas including infections, inflammatory disorders, inherited diseases, neoplasms and organ failure.

Discuss haematological disorders including anaemias, haematological malignancy and pathology of the lymph node.

Explain pathobiology of the breast and endocrine system; screening services.

Explain pathobiology and microbiology of the skin and musculoskeletal system.

Discuss the functions of public health and health promotion, including topics of epidemiology, healthcare needs assessment, and prevention of diseases related both to individual and population health services and wider determinants of health.

Explain principles and practical aspects of infection control in the health care setting and use of antimicrobial agents.

Discuss the principles of prevention, control and management and aetiology of major infectious diseases.

Explain basic principles of forensic medicine in relation to common causes and signs of injury, disease and postmortem changes. 

Describe the role of the state pathologist and the coroner, recognise the circumstances in which death should be reported to the coroner, discuss the role of the autopsy and the inquest.

Describe the processes and techniques of identification of dead, the importance of accurate certification of death and be familiar with the signs of violence and injury/trauma.

Establish cause of death in a given case, i.e. whether it is natural, accidental, homicidal or suicidal and recognise the signs of unnatural death, including signs of asphyxia and the effects of various drugs and toxins.

 Non-didactic teaching including tutorials

8 sessions held per week.Topics reflect lecture content

 Educational Materials Required

Textbooks

Basic

  • Robbins Basic Pathology; Kumar V., Cotran R.S, Robbins S., Seventh Edition
  • General and Systemic Pathology; Underwood J.C.E., Fourth Edition
  • Immunology; Janeway – Travers, Third edition, 1997
  • Wheaters Basic Pathology; Burkitt H.G., Stevens A., Lowe J.S., Young B., Third Edition
  • Department of Bacteriology Handbook
  • Health and Disease Handbook

  

Advanced

  • Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease; Kumar V., Abbas AK, Fausto N., Seventh Edition 

Module Assessment:

1st sitting: Continuous assessment Presentations (15%) - 10% is Pathology and 5% is Bacteriology

                   End of module 2 x 2 hour computer based MCQs (85%)

                

2nd sitting: Continuous assessment Presentations (15%) - 10% is Pathology and 5% is Bacteriology

                     Autumn   2 x 2 hour computer based MCQs (85%)

Attendance is monitored during all types of teaching. Students with < 70% attendance may not be permitted to take the exam.