Curriculum

*  Student group from the 2016 rotation  *

*  Good doctors according to one of the 2024 rotation  *

In the 2024/2025 academic year, the entire rotation in Family Medicine comprises 130 hours.

Detailed timetable for each rotation will be distributed at the first day of rotation. The first day starts with the seminar starting at 8:15.

NOTE: Before entering the room, students may have their body temperature measured. Increased body temperature (> 37.0 ° C) and / or other symptoms characteristic of a respiratory tract infection will be the basis for not allowing the student to attend seminars/classes (without losing attendance on a given day). 

Seminars take place in the Department’s venue, whereas classes take place in a number of GP practices (details will be provided in the timetable). At both classes and seminars, students are obliged to wear badges. Students being late by more than 15 min. at the meeting will not be allowed to take part in the classes or seminars. When being to the GP practice, please do not leave or enter the room while the visit with patient is ongoing. Please do not eat or drink during the clinical class. Individual measures to protect from COVID-19 are of sole responsibility of a student, and are compulsory to take part in the classes.

Details of seminars and classes:

A. Seminars (in non-chronological order) – start every day at 8:15:

1. Principles and core values of family medicine. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Sloane PD. Essentials of Family Medicine, Chapter 2)

2. GP and other levels of healthcare system: co-operation or competition?  PDF>>


3. Prevention in family medicine. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Sloane PD. Essentials of Family Medicine, Chapter 8, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Pocket Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2005, link>>, Conroy RM et al., Estimation of ten-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease in Europe: the SCORE project. Eur Heart J. 2003 Jun;24(11):987-1003. link>>)


4. Practice organization and financing in Poland and the other countries. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Sloane PD. Essentials of Family Medicine, Chapter 4)


5. Doctor-patient communication. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Herxheimer A (2005) Communicating with Patients about Harms and Risks. PLoS Med 2(2): e42 link>> )

6. Conflict prevention and solving in family medicine. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Sloane PD. Essentials of Family Medicine, Chapter 5)

7. Chronic conditions in family doctor’s practice. PDF>>

8. Pharmacoeconomics in family doctor’s practice.  PDF>>

(suggested literature: King DR, Kanavos P. Encouraging the use of generic medicines: implications for transition economies. Croat Med J. 2002 Aug;43(4):462-9. link>> , Moghimi Y (2006) The “PharmFree” Campaign: Educating Medical Students about Industry Influence. PLoS Med 3(1): e30 link>>, Almasi EA, Stafford RS, Kravitz RL, Mansfield PR (2006) What Are the Public Health Effects of Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising? PLoS Med 3(3): e145 link>>, Caulfield T (2004) The Commercialisation of Medical and Scientific Reporting. PLoS Med 1(3): e38 link>>, Applbaum K (2006) Pharmaceutical Marketing and the Invention of the Medical Consumer. PLoS Med 3(4): e189 link>>)

9. Use and misuse of medication. Rational use of antibiotics.  PDF>>

(suggested literature: Waller DG. Rational prescribing: the principles of drug selection and assessment of efficacy. Clin Med 2005; 5: 26-8., Barter PJ, Rye K-A, Gotto AM, Jr. The Argument Against the Appropriateness of Over-the-Counter Statins. Circulation 2006;114;1315-1320. link>>, Gotto AM, Jr, Barter PJ, Rye K-A. Over-The-Counter Statins Are Worth Considering in Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation 2006;114;1310-1314. link>>, David M. Wong, Dean A. Blumberg i Lisa G. Lowe. Guidelines for the use of antibiotics in acute upper respiratory tract infections. Am Fam Phys 2006;74:956. link>>, Patrick DM, Hutchinson J. Antibiotic use and population ecology: How you can reduce your “resistance footprint” CMAJ, FEBRUARY 17, 2009; 180(4) link>> )

(suggested literature: Kardas P. Patient compliance with antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2002 Jun;49(6):897-903. link>>,)


10. Adherence to medication. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Kardas P. Patient compliance with antibiotic treatment for respiratory tract infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2002 Jun;49(6):897-903. link>>,)

11. End of life issues. PDF>>

12. Alternative treatment. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Nienhuys JW. The True Story of Oscillococcinum link>> metaanalysis on acupuncture link>>)

13. Vaccinations in primary care. ECG. PDF>>

(suggested literature: Kadish et al., ACC/AHA clinical competence statement on electrocardiography and ambulatory electrocardiography .J Am Coll Cardiol 2001; 38: 2091-100. link>>)

14. Respiratory tract conditions: COPD, asthma, RTIs. PDF>>

15. Elderly care. PDF>>

16. Mental health issues and related drugs of use in primary care. PDF>> *

B. Classes (in alphabetical order):

    1. Abdominal pain
    2. Chest pain
    3. Child & newborn care
    4. Diabetes mellitus global guidelines for DM2>>
    5. Dyspepsia and other digestive tract diseases
    6. Dysuria
    7. Fever
    8. Headache
    9. Hypertension
    10. IHD
    11. Lower back pain
    12. Obesity
    13. Otoscopy
    14. Prenatal care
    15. RTIs
    16. Skin problems

Basic suggested literature:

Principal handbook:

John Murtagh, Justin Coleman, Clare Murtagh, Sarah Metcalfe. John Murtagh’s General Practice. 9th edition. McGraw-Hill Education. 2025. Print ISBN: 9781761000058

Secondary handbooks:

  • Rakel RE, Rakel DP. Textbook of Family Medicine.9th edition. SAUNDERS. 978-0323239905.
  • D. Sloane, Essentials of Family Medicine, 6th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2011, ISBN 1608316556 (NB. A newer, 7th edition is also available. Because there is certain difference in chapters between 6th and 7th edition, please use the 6th edition for the topics which are not covered by the 7th edition.)
  • McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Available online at: https://empendium.com/mcmtextbook/

Assessment methods and criteria:

A. knowledge component

  • multiple choice test

B. skills component

  • a case study (a template is available here>>)
  • ongoing evaluation of practical skills for primary diagnosis of a child and an adult, made by the teacher leading the clinical meeting

C. attitudes and transferable skills component

  • ongoing evaluation of ethical and transferable skills, made by the teacher leading the clinical meeting, with clinical evaluation form

The scoring system is based on points that students are supposed to earn according to their results.

The exam is based on multiple choice test (80 points), its value is 80% of final total score. Example of test questions are provided here>>

Up to 20% of total final score could be collected for attendance at seminars and classes. Attendance at seminars will be recorded by your teacher at random time. NB make sure that you collect enough points to pass the exam. No chances to attend the meetings after the end of the rotation will be provided to the students.

The final mark is given according to the total score: 67-75p – 3, 76-81p – 3.5, 82-87p – 4, 88-93p – 4.5, 94-100p – 5. Here is the calculator of the final grade.

Caution: 75% of attendance necessary to take the exam

NB Students trying to cheat with their attendance, by providing their charts for signature, while in fact they were absent, will be given negative points for attendance. No retrospective collection of signatures is allowed.

Note: questions regarding test results, test questions etc. are accepted within two weeks’ time from the date of exam.

Registration for the exam takes place at https://www.terminy.umed.asksys.pl/en/ no later than 2 days before the date of the test. Students need to register in advance. No registration means no entrance to the exam! In case of technical problems with logging in for the exam, please contact Ms Magdalena Jarzyńska (an employee of the Central Examination Center) at the email address: egzaminy@umed.lodz.pl. Other organizational issues related to exams are regulated by the Regulations of the Central Examination Center.

The test is carried out on computers at the Clinical Didactic Center at Pomorska 251 Street in Łódź. 24 hours before the exam each registered student will get a confimation of date, hour and room of the exam. These details may change, because they depend on final number of registered students, so please do check them before the exam.

Dates of the exams are:

  • Winter semester 2024/25:
    • I term – January 27th, 2025 RESULTS>>
    • First retake – February 25th, 2025
    • Second retake – March 5th, 2025
  • Summer semester 2024/25:
    • I term – June 17th, 2025 RESULTS>>
    • First retake – September 10th, 2025 RESULTS>>
    • Second retake – September 18th, 2025 RESULTS>>

Historic results:

  • …

Students need to register in advance. No registration means no entrance to the exam!

24 hours before the exam each registered student will get a confimation of date, hour and room of the exam. These details may change, because they depend on final number of registered students, so please do check them before the exam.

NOTICE REGARDING MEDICAL CERTIFICATES AND EXCUSING ABSENCES BASED ON MEDICAL CERTIFICATES

The Medical University of Lodz informs that absence from classes, assessments, or exams due to illness will be excused based on a medical certificate. The University accepts certificates issued according to the following rules/criteria:

  1. Direct examination by a physician

The determination of a student’s temporary inability to participate in classes or exams due to illness, hospitalization, or stay in another medical facility must be based on a direct health examination (i.e., a visit to the doctor).

  1. The medical certificate must include all of the following elements:
  1. Date of issuance of the document
  2. Full name of the physician
  3. Physician’s stamp confirming qualifications and specialization
  4. Medical license number
  5. Physician’s handwritten signature
  6. Full name of the student
  7. Student’s PESEL number or passport number (if PESEL is not assigned)
  8. Validity period of the medical certificate
  9. Reason for issuing the certificate

IMPORTANT!

The Medical University of Lodz does not accept medical certificates:

  1. Issued on the ZUS ZLA form. This form is intended for individuals employed under a work contract and cannot be used by students to justify absence from classes, assessments, or exams.
  2. Issued on the ZUS ZLA form for medical students under the Ministry of National Defence (MON) quota, as the University is not authorized to process such certificates, not being a contribution payer or employer.
  3. Issued electronically via teleconsultation.
  4. Issued by prescription generators (polish: ‘receptomaty’).

The student is required to present the original medical certificate to the Dean’s Office within 5 working days from the occurrence of the circumstances causing the absence.

In particularly justified cases, it is permissible to send a scan or photo of the medical certificate to the email address of the appropriate Dean’s Office staff member.

In the case of assessments or exams held at the Central Examination Center, a scan of the medical certificate should be sent to: egzaminy@umed.lodz.pl

Legal basis information is available at the Recruitment and Education Department.

Recommendation letter may be issued for a student upon individual request, provided that the student has passed the final exam on the first attempt and received a final grade of 4.0 or higher.

To request a recommendation letter, please send the following information to Dr. Paweł Lewek via email:

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Gender
  • Month and year you passed Family Medicine
  • Final grade
  • Program (4-6 MD or 5MD-Adv)

Contact regarding didactic issues: Pawel Lewek MD PhD>>