General Medicine syllabus (Competency based) in India

General Medicine syllabus for MBBS in India (Competency based Education/CBME 2019) including Respiratory Medicine

General Medicine: Topics & competencies as per the CBME

Respiratory Medicine: Topics & competencies as per the CBME

Sample of the detailed description of the competencies:

• Abbreviations & details:
  • No & Competencies: No – serial number of the competency with subject/topic coding, & Competencies – description of competencies
  • Domain/level-Core (DLC):
    1. Domain (Identifies the domain): K- Knowledge, S – Skill, A – Attitude/professionalism, C- Communication.
    2. Level (Identifies the level of competency): K – Knows, KH – Knows How, SH – Shows how, P- performs independently.
    3.  Core: Y – must achieve/compulsory, N – non-core/desirable/optional
  • Skills required to certify: P – many procedures must be done independently for certification/ graduation.
  • Integration: V – Vertical Integration, H – horizontal integration.

General Objectives of General Medicine for MBBS

• Objectives: Student should be able to

1. 1. Understand the various manifestations of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
   2. Understand the basic principle of history taking and clinical examinations.
   3. Elicit a detailed history, perform a thorough physical examination including mental status examination and examination of an unconscious patient.
   4. Correlate the clinical symptoms and physical signs to make a provisional anatomical, physiological, etiopathological diagnosis along with the functional disability and suggest relevant investigation.
   5. Interpret reasonably the relevant investigations.
   6. Professionally present and discuss the principles involved in the management of the patient, initiate first-line management and outline short-term and long-term management.
   7. Manage common acute medical emergencies.
   8. Acquire the skills to perform  minor procedures under supervision (IV cannulation,  urinary bladder catheterisation &doing an ECG etc)
   9. Acquire the skills to perform minor procedure under supervision like – IV cannulation, insertion of nasogastric tube, urinary bladder catherisation, use of peak flow meter, doing an ECG etc.

Teaching and learning methodology in General Medicine for MBBS in India

• Details of the competencies, lectures, practicals & skills to be acquired are mentioned in the table given above.
• Teaching Learning Method:
  1. Learner-centric didactic lectures with Vertical/horizontal integrations (CBME).
  2. Tutorial & Seminars 
  3. Problem-based Learning (PBL) & Small group discussions (especially focus on practical & clinical implications of the knowledge through cases)
  4. Conventional Practical classes & DOAP session (Demonstrate, Observe, Assess, Perform),
  5. Self-directed learning +/- multimedia aids (Audiovisual presentations).
  6. Symposia & quizzes.

Distribution of approximate teaching hours in General Medicine for MBBS in India

• NBE provided the particulars of competencies, teaching methodology, Vertica/.horizontal integrations, AETCOM & Exam methodology however the distribution of hours per class/tutorial & practicals are left for the individual universities to be handled therefore subjected to inter-university variability.
• Total number of teaching hours: approximately 150 hrs (teaching hours & distribution might differ slightly per university).
• Theory & Practicals:

Examination pattern & marks distribution in Dermatology for MBBS

• Exam pattern: 
  1. The formative or internal assessment will not be added to the university examination marks.
     • Should score 50  % & in theory and practical combined to be eligible to sit for university exams.
  2. University exam: Each subject will have two papers.
     • 200 marks will be reserved for the theory of two papers.
     • Another 100 will be reserved for either practical, oral, or clinical exam.
     • Should secure 50 % in theory and practical to pass in university examinations

1. Formative Assessment:
   1. Theoretical assessment: clickers, one-minute papers, and muddiest point
   2. Practical/clinical assessment: one-minute preceptor (OMP) and/or viva voce.
   3. Scheduling: during teaching-learning activities & planned by the teachers on a day to day basis and modified depending on the tasks at hand.
2. Internal assessment
   1. Theory: Written tests, should have essay questions, short notes, and creative writing.
   2. Practical / Clinical: practical/clinical tests, Objective Structured Clinica/Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) and/or viva voce.
   3. Scheduling:
      • Minimum Number of tests during the year: 2
      • Clinical subjects should also be tested at end of each posting (EOP)-Theory and Practical
      • There should be at least one short question from AETCOM in each subject
      • One of the tests in Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology/Forensic Medicine & Toxicology/ Community Medicine should be prelim or pre-university examination
3. Summative assessment (For Universities)
   • Theory Papers: 2 papers for 200 marks
     1. Suggested combination of various types of question:
        1. Structured essays (Long Answer Questions – LAQ)
        2. Short Answers Questions (SAQ)
        3. Objective type questions (Various type of MCQs: < 20% weightage)
     2. Distribution of the competencies: The examiner must sample the contents appropriately from competencies.
   • Practicals for 100 marks: 
     1. Application-oriented exercises (Should not be simple tests of knowledge).
     2.  Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE), One- Minute Preceptor (OMP), Directly Observed Procedural Skills (DOPS) etc. can be suitably modified for this purpose and/or viva voce.
   • Scheduling:

List of recommended books in General Medicine for MBBS

1. Davidsion’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, ELBS-Livingstone publications
2. Kumar & Clark’ Clinical Medicine – A textbook for medical students and doctors, ELBS publications
3. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, McGraw Hill publications (Reference book)
4. Oxford Textbook of Medicine Vol I & II, ELBS publication (Reference book)
5. Hutchison’s Clinical Methods, ELBS publications
6. Macleod’s Clinical Examination, ELBS publications
7. API textbook of Medicine

Also watch:

• Lecturer in MBBS final year General Medicine:

• Practical in MBBS final year General Medicine:

Also read:

1. Internal medicine syllabus in China
2. Dermatology syllabus in Russia & other CIS
3. New Indian MBBS syllabus (CBME 2019)