Core Concepts
Module title | Core Concepts |
---|---|
Module code | HPDM100 |
Academic year | 2025/6 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Dr Emma Cockcroft (Convenor) Dr Rob Daniels (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|
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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
80 | 220 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 80 | In-person teaching at 2 residential courses |
Guided independent study | 100 | Web-based activities on ELE |
Guided independent study | 120 | Reading and preparation for assessment |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Essay | 1,500 words | 1, 3 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Essay | 100 | 4,000 words | 1-6 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Essay | Essay | 1-6 | Within 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 value | 30 |
---|---|
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 |