PATH 500 Basic Sciences Foundation for Clinical Reasoning

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The BSFCR course is delivered using Small Group case based sessions only. These small group sessions are student¬ driven, group discussion sessions that are organized in 50-m inure case based session starting from presenting symptoms only. The course is not organized by system, but contains a random assortment of typical presenting symptoms for a variety of cases for all of the organ systems, and multi-systems cases. The sequence of the systems is not matched with the PCM2 course intentionally as the student development of the cases is meant to proceed by clinical reasoning skills a lone and not by place in curriculum.

 

The objectives of basic sciences are discussed using multiple clinical vignettes, in a student led session with a training facilitator. For each case students receive a presenting symptom, equivalent to the first line of an NBME test item; Through group discussion the students will form a hypothesis for the presenting problem and then work through

  1. What further questions would be asked to differentiate between hypotheses (history)
  2. What physical examination findings would be expected and how would they help to refine the h hypothesis
  3. What investigations  would be helpful and how they would corroborate or refute hypothesis
  4. What do the laboratory findings indicate and how do they apply to the hypothesis
  5. Integrate all  of the elements and summarize the final hypothesis with a summary statement of supporting elements using appropriate semantic qualifiers.

 

The clinical  tutors monitor, guide, emphasize and correct the facts being discussed. In every small group session, the students are expected to demonstrate Professional behavior(PB), effective communication and interpersonal skills (CS)and demonstrate focused and analytical approach to the case. At the end of the session, all students should have differential diagnosis and a summary of the main elements of the case with supporting and refuting evidence.

Each week will contain a formative assessment at the end of the week comprised of UWorld MCQs.

 

  • 5 DLA style e lectures on summary statements and semantic qualifiers
  • Uworld access 3 hours per week contributed to quizzes
  • 11 case based small group sessions- 33 clinical cases
  • 12 DLA based case reviews- guided case summaries
  • 4 h comprehensive written assessment at the end of the course

 

A make-up examination will be offered 5 times per year, March , May, July, October, December