Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department
James G Cowman, Manuel Bakheet Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain Background: A student-selected component (SSC) of the medical curriculum requires the student to be self-directed in locating and undertaking a placement in a clini...
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doaj-238d1de2a8444a5b889a3fb4b5d52edd2020-11-24T21:57:50ZengDove Medical PressAdvances in Medical Education and Practice1179-72582017-08-01Volume 861161734393Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency departmentCowman JGBakheet MJames G Cowman, Manuel Bakheet Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain Background: A student-selected component (SSC) of the medical curriculum requires the student to be self-directed in locating and undertaking a placement in a clinical specialty of their choosing and completing a project. The clinical area for experience was an accident and emergency department, and our topic was a focused audit on the investigations and referral for paracetamol overdose. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to reflect on the education value to medical students of an SSC in a medical curriculum, and to highlight learning and understanding through completion of an audit.Materials and methods: An audit approach was applied. The aim of the project study was to investigate the level of compliance with best-practice guidelines for investigations and psychiatric referral in paracetamol overdose.Results: A total of 40 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly selected. The sample had a mean age of 27 years, of whom 70.5% were female, and the ingested dose of paracetamol ranged from 0.864 to 80 g. Paracetamol abuse may present as intentional and unintentional overdose. In our study, 85% of cases were identified as intentional overdose and 76% had a history of psychiatric illness. Generally, medical management was compliant with guidelines, with some minor irregularities. The international normalized ratio was the most underperformed test.Conclusion: Our choice of topic, paracetamol overdose, contributed to our understanding of the breadth of factors to be considered in the emergency medical management of a patient. In this regard, we had the benefit of understanding how the diagnostic and therapeutic factors, when applied in accordance with best-practice guidelines, work very effectively. The SSC impacted positively on our cognitive, personal, and professional development. In facilitating the student with choice, the SSC encouraged self-direction and proactivity. We gained experience in the discipline of research and acquired some skills in independent thinking and analysis. Keywords: self-directed learning, medical curriculum, student-selected component, paracetamol overdose, investigations, psychiatric referralhttps://www.dovepress.com/student-selected-component-in-the-medical-curriculum-investigations-an-peer-reviewed-article-AMEPSelf-Directed LearningMedical CurriculumStudent Selected ComponentParacetamol OverdoseInvestigationsPsychiatric Referral |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Cowman JG Bakheet M |
spellingShingle |
Cowman JG Bakheet M Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department Advances in Medical Education and Practice Self-Directed Learning Medical Curriculum Student Selected Component Paracetamol Overdose Investigations Psychiatric Referral |
author_facet |
Cowman JG Bakheet M |
author_sort |
Cowman JG |
title |
Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department |
title_short |
Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department |
title_full |
Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department |
title_fullStr |
Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department |
title_full_unstemmed |
Student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department |
title_sort |
student-selected component in the medical curriculum: investigations and psychiatric referral for paracetamol overdose in an accident and emergency department |
publisher |
Dove Medical Press |
series |
Advances in Medical Education and Practice |
issn |
1179-7258 |
publishDate |
2017-08-01 |
description |
James G Cowman, Manuel Bakheet Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain Background: A student-selected component (SSC) of the medical curriculum requires the student to be self-directed in locating and undertaking a placement in a clinical specialty of their choosing and completing a project. The clinical area for experience was an accident and emergency department, and our topic was a focused audit on the investigations and referral for paracetamol overdose. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to reflect on the education value to medical students of an SSC in a medical curriculum, and to highlight learning and understanding through completion of an audit.Materials and methods: An audit approach was applied. The aim of the project study was to investigate the level of compliance with best-practice guidelines for investigations and psychiatric referral in paracetamol overdose.Results: A total of 40 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly selected. The sample had a mean age of 27 years, of whom 70.5% were female, and the ingested dose of paracetamol ranged from 0.864 to 80 g. Paracetamol abuse may present as intentional and unintentional overdose. In our study, 85% of cases were identified as intentional overdose and 76% had a history of psychiatric illness. Generally, medical management was compliant with guidelines, with some minor irregularities. The international normalized ratio was the most underperformed test.Conclusion: Our choice of topic, paracetamol overdose, contributed to our understanding of the breadth of factors to be considered in the emergency medical management of a patient. In this regard, we had the benefit of understanding how the diagnostic and therapeutic factors, when applied in accordance with best-practice guidelines, work very effectively. The SSC impacted positively on our cognitive, personal, and professional development. In facilitating the student with choice, the SSC encouraged self-direction and proactivity. We gained experience in the discipline of research and acquired some skills in independent thinking and analysis. Keywords: self-directed learning, medical curriculum, student-selected component, paracetamol overdose, investigations, psychiatric referral |
topic |
Self-Directed Learning Medical Curriculum Student Selected Component Paracetamol Overdose Investigations Psychiatric Referral |
url |
https://www.dovepress.com/student-selected-component-in-the-medical-curriculum-investigations-an-peer-reviewed-article-AMEP |
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