Entry requirements

Required previous knowledge is decided by the Committee for Undergraduate Medical Education.

Aims

The principal objective of this course is to prepare students for their continued clinical education by providing them with the basic knowledge and special skills that are necessary in order to attain an adequate level of proficiency in clinical physiology. A further aim is to give the students an understanding of the pathophysiology of different organ systems.

Content

The education is mainly designed as a separate course to be started during the 6th term and continued over the 7th term. The teaching and study plan cover the principles and methodology of, and practice in the most common physiological methods of examination of importance as well as basic pathophysiology with reference to certain diseases and functional disturbances. The course places special emphasis on the functional aspects of the organ systems heart/blood vessels and lungs. In addition, the blood, kidneys and urinary tract, the gastrointestinal tract and the skeleto-muscular system are reviewed in a more cursory fashion. Students will receive a practical orientation and proficiency training regarding physiological evaluations and interpretation of the findings.

Instruction

The course is taught concurrently with other courses during a period of approximately four-weeks, and consists primarily of formal lectures, clinical training, discussions of case reports and thematic teaching (i.e. teaching based on an interdisciplinary theme).

During the remainder of the year of study in internal medicine, the teaching of clinical physiology involves attending conferences, clinical training and thematic teaching. In addition, students are divided into groups to perform routine departmental duties in clinical physiology.

Assessment

To satisfy the course requirements, the students have to pass the tests in the practical exercises and attend those phases of the course that are compulsory in accordance with directives that will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Assessment of the course work in clinical physiology takes the form of a written examination. This is based on clinical cases or situations where general knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge within the clinical area are necessary. When the student has passed the examination at the end of the 6th term, the student is awarded 2 points. The third point in clinical physiology is conferred upon completion of the practical duties on the hospital ward and when the final examination in medicine has been passed.