Surgery and Orthopaedics

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Communicate effectively in the following ways: a. Communicate effectively with the patients and be able to explain to the patient the results of your clinical examination b. Written clinical record suitable for inclusion in case notes c. Formal oral case presentations to your colleagues and senior medical staff
• Make a preliminary assessment of a patient’s likely surgical or orthopaedic problem, and have an understanding of the processes by which doctors make and test a differential diagnosis
• Show awareness of a wide variety of ways in which you learn in the workplace, often not defined by the curriculum, and which includes role models
• Understand the patient pathway in a surgical and operating theatre setting
• Recognise symptoms and signs of common diseases seen in surgery and orthopaedics
• Demonstrate understanding of the roles of different team members within the inter-professional setting
• Examine normal and abnormal systems with particular reference to surgical disease (musculoskeletal, breast, neck, groin, vascular system, abdomen)
• Develop insight into your learning needs in the professional workplace and recognise the need for support and guidance in managing challenging situations; and reflect on your own learning style and how it may need to be adapted to the clinical environment
• Demonstrate understanding of basic sciences and pathology underlying common disorders relating to surgical and orthopaedic patients
• Develop good relationships with all members of the surgical team (medical and non-medical)
• Take a history of the presenting complaint, relevant past surgical history, associated disease particularly those relevant to anaesthesia, and the medication and social history, particularly family and home circumstances which may influence postoperative management
• Assess and recognise the severity of a clinical presentation and a need to immediate emergency care
• Demonstrate competency performing stipulated clinical skills as per the student portfolio requirements
• Show an understanding of the duties of confidentiality in your contact with colleagues and patients
• Demonstrate an appreciation of basic safety principles - for patients and staff - in the operating theatre and in the post-operative setting; to include understanding of infection control and antibiotic resistance
• Understand the use of time as a diagnostic tool
• Interact with patients and colleagues whose cultural backgrounds, beliefs and values may differ from your own in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner
• Describe and justify the selection of appropriate investigations for surgical and orthopaedic cases, and be able to discuss the principles underlying these investigations
• Demonstrate awareness of professional responsibility both to patients and to members of the multiprofessional team and to student colleagues and reflect on how poor performance or poor professional behaviour should be addressed
• Take responsibility for your own learning and your continuing professional development and develop an enquiring basis to learning
• Describe how you would relate clinical disorders to patients and family
• Understand the use and justification for clinical investigations and their impact on the patient and health services
• Establish a relationship with a patient, explore and acknowledge their concerns

The module comprises 7 weeks in total. Students are attached to one or more named consultant surgeons and their extended teams, and will gain exposure to general and specialist (orthopaedics/breast and endocrine/urological/vascular) surgery. Experience in the clinical team includes emergency work.

There will be opportunities to consolidate clinical skills teaching which will include tuition in practical procedures, examination techniques, perioperative care, critical illness assessment, and radiology tutorials.

Clinical skills taught

• Breast examination
• Male/Female catheterisation
• Urinalysis pregnancy testing
• Gloving and Gowning in preparation for theatre

Details of these attachments and a course handbook will be available during the introductory week. Specific diseases covered in the module will include:

Common upper gastrointestinal diseases

• Gallstones and pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Pancreatobiliary malignancy
• Oesophagogastric malignancy

Common lower gastrointestinal diseases :

• Diverticular disease
• Colorectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Perianal conditions

Common urological conditions

• Renal tract stones
• Incontinence and benign prostatic hypertrophy
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Urological emergencies

Common vascular surgical conditions

• Peripheral vascular disease
• Carotid arterial disease
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Venous disease

General surgical conditions

• Herniae
• Skin lumps
• The acute abdomen

Common orthopaedic conditions

• Osteoarthritis and elective joint replacement

The module will be taught through a range of learning and teaching strategies which will include:

• Lectures
• Guided self-study
• Group work
• Patient based learning
• eLearning
• Learning Logbooks
• Reflection

Within this module there may be some activities that will take place in the evenings, nights or weekends, students are encouraged to make the most of these opportunities.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.