Advanced course in Obstetrics and Gynecology

The course is offered as an elective course at an advanced level, in semester 11 in the Programme in Medicine, 360 credits.

Passed grade in Clinical Theory and Practice 5, 30 credits, and in addition all courses placed before semester 9, according to the programme curriculum of the medical programme, should be approved. Furthermore, a passing grade is required for the following course component in the course Degree Project; Portfolio Examination 1 (8 credits).

The course aims to provide the student with in-depth knowledge in obstetrics and gynecology. The first part of the course focuses on women's health in the Swedish healthcare system. This is followed by clinical training at gynecological and obstetric departments and clinics in combination with virtual classrooms and simulations of gynecological and obstetric examinations with a focus on pathological findings. The last part of the course focuses on complicated situations at antenatal clinics, abortion clinics and reproductive medicine units.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in obstetrics such as management of intercurrent illnesses in pregnancy, in-depth knowledge of pregnancy-specific illnesses including long-term effects and management of complicated childbirth
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in gynecology such as management of gynecological cancer, benign gynecological diseases including reproductive medicine, taking into account complicated cases with intercurrent diseases and chronic conditions
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in in an international perspective about Swedish maternal healthcare, obstetric care, screening programs and abortion legislation

Competence and skills

• Perform a gynecological examination with a focus on pathological findings, including speculum examination and cytology sampling
• Perform external and internal obstetric examinations.
• Manage the critically ill gynecological or obstetric patient in a simulated environment

Judgment and approach

• Reflect on how women's healthcare in Sweden and globally affects women's health and position in society
•  Apply principles of confidentiality within specific areas of women's healthcare, such as gynecological and obstetric teenage patients as well as violence in close relationships, including the child perspective

Forms of teaching:

• lectures
• seminars
• simulations
• self-studies
• clinical placement

Language of instruction: English.
The course is generally offered in English, but it may be conducted entirely or partially in Swedish if circumstances require it.

The course is examined through the following components:

• Seminars (2 credits)
• Clinical placement (2 credits)
• Written exam (2 credits)

Completion may be permitted at the discretion of the examiner. The form and timeframe of completion will be determined by the examiner.

All compulsory elements must be completed in order to pass the course and, if missed, should be retaken as soon as possible by agreement with the course coordinator.

The number of examination occasions at clinical placements is limited to two (2) occasions.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

The examiner may, with immediate effect, suspend a student from his/her clinical placement or equivalent if the student shows a deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitudes to the degree that there is significant risk for self-injury or physically or mentally injury of another person or patient safety or the patients' confidence in healthcare is at risk.
When the clinical placement is interrupted in this way it means that the student has failed the current course component, and that one opportunity is used, and that he/she may not continue the same clinical placement at a later stage. The reason for the interruption should be documented and an individual plan be established that states which activities and knowledge checks are required before the student can be offered a new clinical placement. A student who fails clinical placement has the possibility to retake the course once more.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass (G) and Fail (U).

Written course evaluation takes place after the end of the course using a course evaluation survey.
The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Clinical placements may be carried out outside the Gothenburg region and may involve travel costs for students.

At clinical placements, certain units may require the student to be able to present extract from the criminal record. It is therefore important that the student always has a valid extract that can be shown upon request. For some activities, ID checks of students may also occur.

At clinical placements, the Västra Götaland region and Region Halland's regulations for professional secrecy and confidentiality apply.

At clinical placements, the hospital hygienic routines of respective activities are followed.

Clinical placements may be carried out in the evenings, at night and at weekends.

Elements of distance/digital teaching requires access to computer, web camera and connection.