PMMAH1: Advanced History Taking and Clinical Assessment

Module code: PMMAH1

Module provider: Pharmacy; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Double Presentation: Semester 1, and Summer

Module convenor: Mrs Caroline Gowlett , email: caroline.gowlett@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mrs Ida Osei, email: ida.osei@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): When taking this module, you must be working in a clinical practice. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 12 May 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is aimed at practising healthcare professionals who are in roles requiring, or that will require, advanced skills in history taking and clinically assessing patients.  Through academic study days and workplace-based learning, you will be supported to develop skills in analysing, evaluating and recording information in relation to enhanced patient care roles.  This module is particularly suited for students who are working, or planning a role as, an independent prescriber.

The module can be studied stand-alone or as part of the MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice.  You will be supported to reflect on your experiences by developing a professional portfolio of their learning, which can be mapped to a relevant professional framework, such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework for all Prescribers.

This module aims to provide an overview of the major body systems.  It will provide you with a systematic understanding of history taking and physical assessment skills to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in consulting with patients/carers and diagnosing disease affecting core body systems. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced skills in conducting consultations and history taking with patients/carers, including data gathering, synthesis, critical analysis and communication
2. Demonstrate the ability to undertake respectful physical examinations of patients, including inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation
3. Demonstrate the ability to analyse available data to differentiate normal and abnormal results, using this information to identify a differential diagnosis and plan, including applying clinical decision-making skills; responding to red flags; seeking advice; and documentation
4. Critically reflect on personal development of knowledge, skills and behaviour in relation to personal limitations, advanced clinical practice and continuing professional development.

Module content

This module will focus on supporting practitioners to apply a range of clinical and scientific knowledge to assess, diagnose and propose treatment plans for common disease states of the major body systems.  The workshops will focus on history taking, consultation skills, therapeutics and physical examination for common ear, nose and throat (ENT), respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, mental health, abdominal and musculoskeletal conditions.  There will be an opportunity for optional venepuncture training.

Students who are uncomfortable with physical contact should contact the admissions tutor to discuss the module requirements prior to enrolling.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will use a range of teaching and learning methods.  The University teaching is based around face-to-face workshops using a mixture of presentations, problem-based learning and case-based learning facilitated by the programme team and specialist healthcare professionals.  The workshops are underpinned by directed learning via Blackboard and self-directed learning, where practitioners are required to use a range of sou