This module builds on teaching and learning in the professional competencies in modules BM4021 Professional Competencies 1 and BM4022 Professional Competencies 2. The module aims to further foster an appreciation of the behavioural sciences in relation to medicine and to promote those attitudes that are essential for ethical and professional behaviour. It also highlights the importance of health promotion and disease prevention, of critical reasoning, of the application of evidence to clinical decision making and of the role of the Doctor within the Health Service. Though the earlier modules Professional Competencies 1 and Professional Competencies 2 dealt with relevant issues in a relatively hypothetical setting, in this module such issues will apply to real patients and to real life situations. For example psycho-behavioural issues and legal and ethical issues are discussed as they apply to real patients.

The module comprises a range of topics that surface repeatedly throughout the year. These include: - Health Psychology - Social and community aspects of health care - Epidemiology - Biostatistics - Public Health Medicine - Health Promotion & Disease Prevention - Occupational Medicine - Complementary Medicine - The Humanities - Informatics - Critical Reasoning - Evidence-Based Medicine - Health Service Organisation & Governance - Health Economics - Health Law and Ethics - Self-awareness and self-care (including the ability to function as a team member) The Year 3 Special Study Module is a compulsory three week period of study that provides students with the opportunity to explore one or more aspects of the Humanities, particularly as they relate to Medicine and is assessed as part of Professional Competencies 3. For example, students might study work(s) of literature that have medical relevance or aspects of the visual or performing arts as they relate to medicine. Students will be required to produce a written report of their Special Study Module. This will be summatively assessed and will contribute to the overall grade for Professional Competencies 3.

While this module focuses on the affective domain, the integrated nature of the programme through the four years is such that there is significant overlap with the cognitive module with cognitive and psychomotor modules in Year 3 (i.e. General Practice, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynaecology)

Demonstrate an appreciation of the behavioural sciences in relation to medicine Demonstrate those attitudes that are essential for ethical and professional behaviour Explain the importance of health promotion and disease prevention Demonstrate critical reasoning Be able to apply evidence to clinical decision making Examine and defend the role of the Doctor within the Health Service and society Demonstrate self-awareness and self-care, including the ability to function as a team member.

While this module focuses on the affective domain, the integrated nature of the programme through the four years is such that there is significant overlap with the cognitive module with cognitive and psychomotor modules in Year 3 (i.e. General Practice, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynaecology)

The module continues the examination of the various social, behavioural, ethical and legal aspects of medicine within the clinical setting through programmed sessions (block release) and through self-directed learning. Programmed sessions will occupy one half day each week throughout the academic year. Though students will be distributed among different clinical sites, they will be linked by videoconference for programmed teaching in this module. As with the cognitive and psychomotor domains, teaching in the Professional Competencies will be both vertically and horizontally integrated. As an example of vertical integration, the application of ethical principles to clinical dilemmas in the æreal worldÆ will build on the theoretical framework that will have been developed through PBL in Years 1 & 2. As an example of horizontal integration, ethical issues relating to human reproduction will be considered while students are undergoing their clinical placement in Obstetrics/Gynaecology.

Students must undertake a research/audit project as part of the professional competencies stream and they are assessed on this at the end of the year