SSCs in Edinburgh

Simon RileyDirector of SSCs

Senior Lecturer (non-clinical)Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Simon.C.Riley@ed.ac.uk

Format of Edinburgh SSCs

SSC1 1st yearResearch project

Small group

Over 10 weeks

Jan-Mar

SSC2 2nd YearWebsites (two)

Small group

Two with 10 sessions each

Sept-Dec

Jan-Mar

SSC3 3rd Year‘Working in teams’

Solo (usually)

4-5 sessions shadowing

Oct-Dec

SSC4 4th YearResearch / audit project (‘SSM’)

Solo8 weeks within

14 weeks

July-Oct

Oct-Feb

Feb-May

SSC5 5th Year ‘Elective’ Solo 8 weeksAcross year

SSC5(b)

4th-5th Year

Inform career / shadowing

Solo

Element of choice in clinical attachments

Across year

Overall learning outcomesof SSC programme

• Fundamentally these are ‘core’ objectives in a setting where student has choice of subject

• Each SSC has a set format, so commonality in overall students’ experience

• Therefore, students should achieve learning objectives [to a greater or lesser degree] for each SSC and across whole programme

• Half LOs based around developing ‘research’ skills, half on ‘professional development’

Learning outcomes• Twofold

– Develop ‘research’ skills• critical appraisal and evidence based medicine• data analysis• informatics

– Broad range of professional and personal skills• team working• communication• time/resource management• learning competencies, developing for CPD• career insight• medical ethics

Accumulation of these core skills

Integration of SSCs into ‘core’

• Clear timetable commitment

• Embedded in all five years of course

• Regarded as a significant part of the course that delivers some of our ‘core’ ‘vertical themes’

• Fully integrated into assessment:– end of each year – end of the five years– contribute to distinctions, prizes, etc

Assessment methods• Project report (major for SSC4; minor for 1)• Tutor feedback

– formal and major component (4)– informal and minor (1, 2, 3 and 5)

• Peer assessment (informal; 1 and 2)• Poster presentation (1)• Wiki site (2); becomes available externally• Information and commentary ‘leaflet’ (3)• Informal oral presentation (3)• ‘Reflective’ diaries or commentaries (1, 4 and 5)• [Oral examination – of portfolio as part of ‘Finals’]

Staff involvement and commitment• Staff see some clear benefits in supporting programme [?]

• motivated students• projects can contribute something useful (papers and abstracts)• not too onerous? Teaching load spread across large number of staff,

and well supported• Enthusiasm for promoting their specialty? Find their future SpRs …

• Either small groups or 1:1 student with staff• Large number of staff (spreads teaching with ~270 students per year)

SSC1 – 48 facilitators UoE and NHS in and around EdinburghSSC2 – 69 facilitators UoE and NHS in and around EdinburghSSC3 – 201 shadowed staff, most outside UoESSC4 – 165 supervisors UoE and NHS in and around Edinburgh

• Statistician dedicated to support SSC projects, teaching ‘applied statistics’, and developing web based resources

• Medical ethicist in support• Excellent administrative and course organiser support