Introduction to Medicine

Code:

113

Acronym:

113

Instance: 2004/2005 - A

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MD	100	Plano oficial a partir de 2000	1	5	10	-

Objectives

The course unit Introduction to Medicine is aimed at providing students with a first contact with the world of Medicine. A refection is expected on the main health problems affecting populations, as well as on the solutions found so far by the Medicine to these problems (studied in History of Medicine) and especially on the methods of acquisition and assessment of knowledge, which is required to a quality performance (i.e., a performance directed by ethic principles, which scientifically and economically effective and socially efficient).
In fact, the practice of Medicine presupposes a combination of different knowledge, not only within the scope of medical diagnosis and therapeutics (which are studied in the basic course units – regarding knowledge of anatomy and physiology and pathology of the human body - and clinical course units – regarding illness signs and health care practice), but also knowledge arising from other scientific fields of study that in the meantime were applied to Health, such as Biostatistics, Medical Informatics, Health Economics or Bioethics.
We believe that, without the knowledge, abilities and behaviour taught/gained within the scope of this course unit, future doctors will come across more difficulties in learning how to learn (which is vital to their basic, specialist and continuing training), in learning how to conduct research (which is vital do the advance of Medicine), in learning how to assess (which is vital to medical audit and continuing quality improvement of health care), in learning how to share (which is the basis to spread information and communication among health care providers), in learning how to make decisions (a permanent issue in setting the particular social context of medical practice) and, finally, in learning to become more human (a vital condition in doctor-patient and inter-professional relationships).

Program

-Medical Informatics
-Biostatistics
-Research Methodology in Health Sciences
-Bioethics
-History of Medicine

Main Bibliography

- On-line Material: (Internet).
-Students are also advised to read the following books: Beaucham TL, Childress JF. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press; Maximiliano Lemos. História da Medicina em Portugal. Publicações Dom Quixote; A medicina e a Sua História. EPUC – Editora de Publicações Científicas, Lda, 1989

Complementary Bibliography

A maior parte do material didáctico, incluindo material de ensino assistido por computador e diversos textos de apoio desenvolvidos pelos docentes da Disciplina, está disponível na Intranet dos Estudantes. Estas páginas Web poderão ser consultadas 24 horas por dia, 7 dias por semana, nos laboratórios de informática da Disciplina ou através de computadores, no exterior, desde que tenham ligação à Internet e o estudante possua login e password pessoais.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Most learning materials in this course unit are available to all students by means of individual login and passwords at the following URL http://medicina.med.up.pt/intro_med/aulas
This material includes several support texts which were prepared by the teaching staff of the course unit, mainly in the fields of Biostatistics, Medical Informatics and Research Methodology, of which a text-book stands out on computer-assisted learning, in the field of Biostatistics. All students enrolled in this course unit are allowed to access these materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at the computer rooms of the course unit or from computers outside this room, as far as they are connected to the Internet.

Software

On-line Material: (Internet).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Eligibility for exams

Students only have access to the final exam when they get at least 4 points for continuing assessment.

Calculation formula of final grade

Only students with a grade equal or above 5 points will get a pass in the final exam.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Assessment method:
Continuing Assessment and Final exam. Continuing assessment - It is aimed at assessing the active participation of students in Theoretical/practical classes, including practical exercises and the presentation of projects carried out all over the year (10 points). Students only have access to the final exam when they get at least 4 points for continuing assessment. Final exam - It is aimed at assessing the theoretical contents of the course unit. This exam is made of several simple and multiple choice closed questions, general and detailed open questions and numeric exercises. Only students with a grade equal or above 5 points will get a pass in the final exam.
Length: 90 minutes.
Grading (out of 10 points):
Bioethics (2 points) ;
History of Medicine (2 points) ;
Biostatistics and Medical Informatics (4 points) ;
Detailed open question, based mainly on the theoretical classes and on the seminars (2 points).

Classification improvement

Students also have the opportunity to carry out an optional annual project, with an extra grade of a maximum of 3 points.

Observations

Teaching staff:
Professor Altamiro da Costa Pereira, associated professor, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Service (Head of the Department)
Professor Rui Nunes, assistant professor, Bioethics and Medical Ethics Service
Professor Amélia Ferraz, assistant professor, Museum of the History of Medicine Maximiano Lemos
Dr. Alberto Freitas, teaching assistant, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Service
Dr. Ricardo Correia, teaching assistant, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Service
Dr. Armando Teixeira Pinto, training teaching assistant, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Service