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Study information

Core Concepts

Module titleCore Concepts
Module codeHPDM100
Academic year2025/6
Credits30
Module staff

Dr Emma Cockcroft (Convenor)

Dr Rob Daniels (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

8

8

8

Number students taking module (anticipated)

30

Module description

In this module you will develop the core skills and understanding that are at the heart of providing medical support and treatment in hostile environments, or those which are remote from conventional healthcare facilities. The taught content of the programme is focused in two intensive residential courses, where you will be challenged to learn in an environment which is unfamiliar and will rely on collaboration with and support of other participants.  The ability to translate practical and theoretical knowledge into management plans will be developed through combination of academic assessments and practical teaching.

This module is compulsory for students taking the PGCert in Extreme Medicine, the PG Diploma in Extreme Medicine and the MSc in Extreme medicine.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module you will critically examine the challenges of providing safe and effective healthcare in a range of challenging environments. This will focus not only on evaluation of health issues to be expected in the field, but the planning and preparation phase for any remote or wilderness activity. Participants will also learn to recognise and evaluate the unique ethical, professional and legal challenges of delivering medical care in challenging environments. This first module will give the participant critical insight into evaluation of research literature, and the challenge of implementing health interventions where evidence may be weak or conflicting.

You will develop the skills required to provide safe and effective healthcare in a range of challenging environments. This will focus not only on evaluation of health issues to be expected in the field, but also on the planning and preparation phase for any remote or wilderness activity. Participants will learn to recognise and evaluate the unique ethical, professional and legal challenges of delivering medical care in challenging environments. In addition, this module will include detailed study of human factors in the field of extreme medicine, with residential components that provide theoretical and practical experience in this area that will also be directly applicable to your work in other healthcare contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Develop the clinical skills and knowledge to plan medical care in remote and austere environments
  • 2. Develop leadership skills in the clinical and non-clinical management of medical expeditions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Critically evaluate the ethical, professional and legal framework of providing medical cover in remote and hostile environments
  • 4. Demonstrate competence and understanding of planning to provide safe, effective medical cover for an overseas expedition

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Develop the personal and medical skills needed to practice in austere and remote environments
  • 6. Develop skills in working under pressure in unfamiliar surroundings

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module's precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

  • Expedition planning and screening
  • The role of human factors in expedition planning and management
  • Risk assessment
  • Basic public health measures and interventions
  • Emergency planning, communications
  • Disaster and humanitarian relief

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
802200

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities80In-person teaching at 2 residential courses
Guided independent study 100Web-based activities on ELE
Guided independent study120Reading and preparation for assessment

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay1,500 words1, 3Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay100 4,000 words1-6Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssayEssay1-6Within 6 weeks of result

Re-assessment notes

Same as for the original summative assessment, to include response to the written feedback and undertaken during the University’s agreed referral/deferral period.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Auerbach, P.S., Constance, B.B. and Freer, L., 2018. Field guide to wilderness medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Dallimore, J., Anderson, S.R., Imray, C., Johnson, C., Moore, J. and Winser, S. eds., 2023. Oxford handbook of expedition and wilderness medicine. Oxford University Press.

Nutbeam, T., Boylan, M., Leech, C. and Bosanko, C. eds., 2023. ABC of prehospital emergency medicine. John Wiley & Sons.

Warrell, D. and Anderson, S., 2004. Expedition Medicine.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE –http://as.exeter.ac.uk/it/systems/ele

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Mellor, A., Dodds, N., Joshi, R., Hall, J., Dhillon, S., Hollis, S., Davis, P., Hillebrandt, D., Howard, E., Wilkes, M. and Langdana, B., 2015. Faculty of Prehospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh guidance for medical provision for wilderness medicine. Extreme physiology & medicine, 4, pp.1-10.

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines: https://www.wms.org/WMS/WMS/Research/WEM/CPG.aspx?hkey=53372fba-abce-41df-82f7-1d56ba012828

Key words search

Extreme medicine, healthcare, ethics

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

7

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/04/2016

Last revision date

14/04/2025