Principles of Primary Care
| Module title | Principles of Primary Care |
|---|---|
| Module code | HPDM127 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Alex Harding (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module provides all who work in primary care an opportunity to examine the core ideas that underpin daily practice. The module uses a flipped approach (the course content is online allowing you to prepare much of the material before the contact days). The contact days therefore focus on applying ideas to practice using a combination of small groups, masterclasses and interactive panel sessions. After completion of the module, you will have gained an insight into postgraduate study and an entry into a rich variety of further learning opportunities
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims are threefold:
- Providing evidence about why primary care systems are so effective and examining how they produce this efficacy (through examining the core principles that underpin primary care)
- Applying the evidence and core principles to clinical scenarios and cases
- Using knowledge of evidence and principles through beginning a change project to strengthen primary care.
Much of the content of this module is delivered by practitioners who have developed national and international policy concerning the core principles of primary care.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically analyse the evidence underpinning the efficacy of primary care-led health systems
- 2. Critically analyse core principles of primary care that account for its efficacy
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Apply knowledge of evidence and principles to clinical cases
- 4. Demonstrate ability to carry out change in primary care disciplinary context
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Demonstrate ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, both in informal (small group) and formal (presentation) contexts
- 6. Demonstrate ability to engage with relevant information technology
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
- The evidence underpinning the efficiency of primary care and primary care-based healthcare systems with the purpose of enabling participants to evaluate proposals and pressure for change. Key areas to cover would include:
-
- International evidence comparing the efficiency of primary care–led healthcare systems to other healthcare systems.
- What are the core principles that underpin primary healthcare and make it different from secondary care; including
- Principles concerning the care of individuals (clinical reasoning, developing clinical relationships, the biopsychosocial model, continuity)
- Principles concerning the care of populations (health inequality, quality of care and facilitating behaviour change in patients)
2. Applying the principles of primary care to clinical situations such as clinical consultations.
3. Principles of self-management and management of others in primary care
-
- Self-management; preserving health in practice / addressing imposter syndrome / career management, development and opportunities for networking on the course
- Management of others; carrying out a change project, time and task management, project management, presentation skills
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 133 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 15 | 6 x1hr masterclasses, 2x2hr small-group work and 2x1.5hr interactive arena sessions |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 2 | Presentation of practice-based case study Presentation of change management ideas in small groups |
| Guided Independent study | 66 | Preparation for course: Interactive, pre-course reading of online material |
| Guided Independent Study | 67 | Preparation for assessment: Preparing submission for assessment (practice-based case study using principles learned on the course) |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completion of interactive pre-course online content | 67 hours; approx.10 pages of content with 5 (approx.) references and interactive element | 1-6 | Online feedback |
| Formulation of a potential change management project | Small group presentation | 1,2,4,5,6 | Face to face feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical-analytic account of a practice-based case study | 100 | 2000 words | 1-6 | Written feedback from module leads |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical-analytic account of a practice-based case study (100%) | Critical-analytic account of a practice-based case study (2000 words) | 1-6 | By end June |
Re-assessment notes
Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Harding A.M. et al (2019)Teaching General Practice RCGP; London
Harding A.M. et al (2020) Teaching General Practice; A resource set for teachers and learners RCGP;London
MCWhinney, I. (1997) A textbook of family practice. Oxford University Press; Oxford
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Key words search
Primary care, Family Practice, General Practice
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | No – but mandatory for all those receiving HEE / NHSE funding |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/01/2020 |
| Last revision date | 22/05/2024 |
