Introduction to Functional Medical Disorders
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MEDS3107 | School of Medicine | 3 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- MEDS3107
- School
- School of Medicine
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
A recent global study has demonstrated that 40% of the general population suffers from Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) (Sperber A. gastroenterology 2020). Patients with these disorders represent a high proportion of patients in gastroenterology departments. Nevertheless, very few clinicians worldwide have specific expertise in managing patients with FGIDs (Simons J. Disorders of gut-brain interaction: Highly prevalent and burdensome yet under-taught within medical education. UEGJ 2022). The fact we do not have biological markers to identify FGIDs has made clinicians uncomfortable in managing these patients. Over the last 20 years, there has been an enormous improvement in our understanding of the pathogenesis of FGIDs. This has improved the diagnosis and treatment of these patients (Lacy B, Functional Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology 2016). Interestingly, functional disorders are also commonly encountered in other specialities such as neurology, cardiology, respiratory medicine, and rheumatology. Frequently, patients with FGIDs present with overlapping functional complaints (Shisha MG. Review article: Physical and psychological comorbidities associated with irritable bowel syndrome Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2021). It is therefore becoming essential that any clinician is competent in recognising these patients and can make a positive diagnosis without requesting unnecessary investigations and can apply evidence-based treatments. It is interesting to note that a positive diagnosis of functional disorders mainly relies on good clinical history taking that is going to become an even more essential skill for the future move to remote medicine.
This module is designed as a multidisciplinary course to equip medical students with the essential knowledge regarding the definition, updated pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment pathways for the most frequent FGIDs and of the most frequently encountered neurological, rheumatological and respiratory functional disorders. The lectures are provided by clinicians, dieticians, and physiologists with specific expertise in these functional disorders and are designed to be pragmatic and interactive. The module will apply the innovative training method of instruction termed “cognitive apprenticeship” to make expert thinking “visible” to the learner (Johnson-Laghi KA. Integrating Cognitive Apprenticeship into Gastroenterology Clinical Training. Johnson-Laghi KA, Mattar MC. Gastroenterology 2022). This new form of teaching strategy should help provide trainee medical students with the requisite skills needed to carry out expert problem-solving processes and will be invaluable in their future medical careers.
Integrating Cognitive Apprenticeship into Gastroenterology Clinical Training. Gastroenterology 2022). This new form of teaching strategy should help provide trainee medical students with the requisite skills needed to carry out expert problem-solving processes and will be invaluable in their future medical careers.
Target Students
Medical students
Classes
- One 1-hour tutorial
- Two 1-hour-30-minute practicums each week for 2 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for
- One 1-hour-30-minute lecture each week for 3 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 4 weeks
The module will last a total of 5 weeks will include 5 hours of lectures-style teaching, 1 hour of tutorial, and 14 hours of case-based teaching (video-consultation example), followed by Q&A and cognitive reflection.
Assessment
- 100% OSCE: OSCE 20 mins
Assessed by end of designated period
Educational Aims
The aims of this new and highly innovative module have been informed by feedback from medical student focus group meetingsThe aims of this module are to equip the students with essential knowledge on:- A general overview of functional disorders in medicine: definition; epidemiology; pathogenesis (introducing concept of microbiota-gut-brain-axis and the bio-psycho-social model as a framework for understanding functional gastrointestinal and other systems-based functional disorders), and management approaches- Internationally used definitions, updated pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment pathways for the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorders (irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, cyclic nausea and vomiting syndrome, narcotic bowel, functional abdominal pain)- Internationally used definitions, updated pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment pathways for the most frequent functional neurological disorders (TBC)- Internationally used definitions, updated pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment pathways for the most frequent functional rheumatologic disorders (TBC)- Internationally used definitions, updated pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment pathways for the most frequent functional respiratory disorders (TBC)Beyond the introductory session, each speciality-driven session will comprise a mix of case-based teaching (video-consultation example), followed by Q&A and cognitive reflection, followed by lecture-style teaching to consolidate knowledgeLearning Outcomes
To introduce the fundamentals of functional disorders within medicine: definitions, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management approaches
The student will be able to diagnose and define a treatment plan for a patient with a functional GI disorder
The student will be able to diagnose and define a treatment plan for a patient with a functional neurological disorder
The student will be able to diagnose and define a treatment plan for a patient with a functional rheumatologic disorder
The student will be able to diagnose and define a treatment plan for a patient with a functional respiratory disorder
The student will be able to apply the cognitive apprenticeship approach in a real-world clinical setting under guided supervision