Clinical Hepatology, 5.0 credits

Entry requirements

Entry requirement for studies on third-cycle education courses

• second-cycle degree,
• 240 credits in required courses, including at least 60 second-cycle credits, or
• acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other manner

Specific information

To benefit from this course, the research student needs to have a research area where patients/subjects with liver disease are studied. The course is primarily intended for research students with little or no clinical hepatological background.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course the student is expected to:

• Explain the normal structure and function of the liver at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ systems levels
• Describe the most common macroscopic and microscopic changes in acute and chronic liver injury, as well as the mechanisms underlying their origin
• Account for the most common causes of acute and chronic liver injury
• Explain the mechanisms of action of treatment methods for the most common chronic liver diseases and their complications
• Describe how patients with liver disease are managed in both outpatient and inpatient settings

Competence and skills

By the end of the course the student is expected to:

• Suggest diagnostic methods to determine the cause of abnormal laboratory tests indicating liver damage

Judgement and approach

By the end of the course the student is expected to:

• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of various diagnostic methods in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with chronic liver disease
• Assess how different diagnostic methods can be utilized to address research questions in clinical hepatology

Contents

The course includes basic theory on liver anatomy and physiology, as well as pathophysiology, treatment, and diagnosis of liver diseases. The purpose of the course is to elucidate hepatology from a clinical and scientific perspective with a focus on current and experimental diagnostic, and monitoring, modalities.

Educational methods

The pedagogical approach applied at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is student centered, problem-based learning (PBL). The student takes responsibility for his/her own learning and seeks and evaluates information and knowledge based on own queries and formulated problems. The role of the teacher is to guide and support the students.

Educational methods applied in this course are lectures, tutorial groups, auscultation, field studies, and seminars.

Examination

The course is examined through an in-depth project related to the research student’s project. The in-depth project includes fieldwork, a written report, and a presentation at a seminar. In addition to the examination, active participation in mandatory components is also required. The mandatory components include clinical observation and group work.

Change of examiner

Students who have failed the course or part of the course twice are entitled to request another examiner for the following examination occasion.

Grading

Pass or Fail

Grading

Course literature

A list of recommended literature will be provided by the course coordinator before the start of the course.

General information

The course is planned and carried out according to what is stated in this syllabus. Course evaluation, analysis and suggestions for improvement should be fed back to the Research and PhD studies Committee (FUN) by the course coordinator.

If the course is withdrawn or is subject to major changes, examination according to this syllabus is normally offered at three occasions within/in close connection to the two following semesters.