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Principles of Primary Care

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.

This module is delivered by distance learning via our online platform. Teaching will draw on a range of high-quality recorded lectures, interspersed with consolidation sessions, workshops and group work. Synchronous sessions will be held via Teams or Zoom.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims are twofold:

1 Providing a knowledge of why primary care systems are so effective in delivering health and the principles of Primary Care that underpin this efficacy.

2 Through acquaintance with this knowledge and participation in peer support groups, a strengthening of motivation to provide high quality care in community settings.

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. Critically analyse ideas around identity and sense of belongingness in primary care
• 4. Critically analyse and apply clinical method and clinical reasoning in primary care

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Critically analyse and apply what professionalism means in modern primary healthcare
• 6. Critically analyse use core management techniques for primary care

Syllabus plan

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

1. 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.
• Understanding the different approaches to primary and secondary care, and in particular, clinical reasoning and clinical method in primary care

2. What are the core principles that underpin efficacy of primary healthcare with a focus on continuity of Principles of self-management and management of others in community care settings

• Self-management; preserving health in practice / addressing imposter syndrome / career management, development and opportunities for networking on the course
• Management of others; influencing, time and task management, project management, presentation skills

3.  Modern ideas of professionalism for clinicians working in community healthcare settings (providing subject matter for small groups

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

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

ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

Primary care, Family Practice, General Practice