The main objective of the semester is to convey insight in digestive diseases, disorders of the musculoskeletal system, pediatrics, geriatrics, acute medicine, and societal medicine. The students learn about their pathogenesis and clinical features of the most important disorders, but also about radiological and endoscopic diagnostics. The students will learn about nutrition for the patient and how disorders can be treated pharmacologically, endoscopically and surgically. The student shall develop skills in clinical examination and write good case records on admission of patients to hospital.

Communication training and understanding the function of a healthcare system employing many group of skilled workers, is of central importance.

During practical activities in patient wards, the students will have a well structured study in co-operation within a healtcare organisation.

Knowlegde

• have good knowledge of pathophysiology, symptoms, clinical findings, investigations and treatment in digestive disorders, malnutrition, pediatrics, geriatrics, trauma and disorders of the musculo-skeletal system.
• be able to explain the structure, laws and function of the Norwegian healthcare system.

Skills

• have developed good communicative skills with patients, their closest relatives and other healthcare professionals
• have developed good skills in clinical examination including that of the musculoskeletal system and abdomen, and be able to assess the nutritional status of patients in all age groups
• write well structured clinical records for patients on admission to medical and surgical departments

General competance

• understand the need for cooperation within the healthcare system
• function well together with other groups of healthcare workers

Eighteen weeks of teaching activities, which includes lectures, instruction in smaller groups, clinics, team-based learning and clinical practice. Practical skills will be trained at the Clinical Skills Instruction Centre at the Faculty, but will also be taught in clinical instruction groups.

• Group education, clinics and team-based learning
• Clinical practice with portefolio submission of reflective notes
• Write a certain number of admission case files for patients
• The communication course
• Approved attendance in the mentoring scheme in the 2nd and 3rd year of study. Minimum approved attendance is 75% per year.

• At the end of the semester the students will have one examination consisting of two parts:
• An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Knowledge and skills from all subjects taught during the first three years of the, but with emphasis on subjects from the 5th and 6th semesters.
• There will also be a written exam based on multiple choice questions and/or short-answer assignments.