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Theory and Science of Practice Examination: 2013 Syllabus
Theory and Science of Practice Examination: 2013 Syllabus
2013 Syllabus
Theory and Science of Practice Examination, 2013 Syllabus March 2012 2012 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Published by: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 5-11 Theobalds Road London WC1X 8SH Tel: 0207 092 6000 Fax: 0207 092 6001 Email: enquiries@rcpch.ac.uk Web: www.rcpch.ac.uk
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health(RCPCH) is a registered charity in England and Wales(1057744) and in Scotland (SC038299)
Foreword
The MRCPCH Examinations Executive Committee is pleased to announce that from 2013 there will be a reconguration of the MRCPCH written examinations. In order to bring the examinations in line with the new curriculum and pathway, it has been decided that the written examinations for admission to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) will be redesignated and restructured as follows: Part 1A will become the Foundation of Practice Examination. Its format and content will be essentially unchanged. A written syllabus incorporating the theoretical components of the current DCH syllabus will be published later this year. Part 1B will be redesignated as the Theory and Science of Practice Examination. The emphasis of the examination will be to test the basic scientic, physiological and pharmacological principles upon which clinical practice is based. The principles of evidence-based practice will also be tested in this examination, as well as in the Applied Knowledge in Practice Examination (see below). The format of the examination will remain a combination of extended-matching, best-of-ve and true-false questions. The rst Theory and Science of Practice Examination will be held in 2013. Part 2 (written) examination will become the Applied Knowledge in Practice Examination (clinical decisions and management). The syllabus will be unchanged but will be streamlined and codied into a single document for transparency, this will be published in late 2012. The format of the examination will not change.
The following syllabus aims to clarify for learners and teachers what the core knowledge requirements are for paediatricians attempting this part of the MRCPCH exam. It should be read in combination with the existing Curriculum for Paediatric Training in General Paediatrics (available at www.rcpch.ac.uk/curriculum) and the new specimen examination for the MRCPCH Theory and Science of Practice (available at www.rcpch.ac.uk/Examinations/Part-1-Structure-and-Specimen-Papers). The resulting syllabus is a signicant improvement on existing guidance and is intended to lead to an improvement in the quality of questions and candidate performance. This document provides a summary list of topics to be covered at level 1 and the theory and science of practice content, specication of which topics must be understood and to what level to achieve the pass standard, and guidance for trainees and teachers on what must be taught and learned.
Contents
To achieve the required standard of knowledge of the scientic basis of paediatric practice, the candidate must be competent in the following areas: Cardiology Dermatology Diabetes and endocrinology Gastroenterology and hepatology Genetics and dysmorphology Haematology and oncology Infection, immunity and allergy Metabolic medicine Musculoskeletal Neonatology Nephro-urology Neurology and neurodisability Nutrition Ophthalmology Palliative care and ethics Pharmacology, poisoning and accidents Respiratory medicine and ENT The science of practice 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Cardiology
The candidate must:
know the anatomy and embryology of the normal heart know the anatomy of the commoner types of congenital heart disease understand the development of the heart and know the abnormalities that are associated with the common congenital heart diseases know the genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of heart disease know the normal fetal circulation and transitional changes after birth understand the physiological basis of myocardial function understand how the anatomy of the heart relates to changes in physical signs, including what underlies the heart sounds and murmurs understand the pathophysiology of cardiac conditions, including cyanosis, heart failure, shock, syncope and unexpected cardiac death be able to select and interpret appropriate investigations in a child with suspected cardiac pathologies understand how the electrical activity of the heart translates to the ECG understand how blood pressure is generated, measured and interpreted understand the pharmacology of drugs used to treat common cardiac conditions, including duct dependant cyanosis, heart failure and arrhythmias know the possible cardiac complications of other system disorders.
Dermatology
The candidate must:
understand the anatomy of the skin know how abnormalities in skin anatomy and physiology relate to appearance, dysfunction and disease understand how injuries to the skin, including burns affect function understand the role of infective agents in skin disease understand the pharmacology of agents used to treat common skin diseases know the possible associations between disorders of the skin and other systems.
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Metabolic medicine
The candidate must:
understand the biochemistry of metabolism, including urea cycle, Krebs cycle, fatty acid cycle understand the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders, eg electrolyte and acid base disturbance, hyperammonaemia, hypoglycaemia know the genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of metabolic disorders know the clinical and biochemical features of electrolyte and acid base disturbances and metabolic diseases understand the investigations that are used in the screening and diagnosis of metabolic disorders know the causes and investigation of metabolic bone disease understand the principles of dietary, vitamin and pharmacological treatment of metabolic diseases.
11
Musculoskeletal
The candidate must:
know and understand the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system know the histology and understand the physiology of normal muscle and understand how structure relates to function understand the pathophysiological changes which occur in muscle and joint disorders know the genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of musculoskeletal disorders know the investigations used in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders understand the pharmacology of agents, including monoclonal antibodies, used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disease understand the disease associations of rheumatological conditions with other conditions, including eye disease and metabolic disorders.
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Neonatology
The candidate must:
understand the embryology of the human fetus from conception to birth and how errors in this process can lead to diseases or congenital anomalies understand the normal physiological processes occurring during the perinatal period understand the physiological basis of neonatal resuscitation understand the scientic basis of common diseases and conditions affecting the newborn, including the consequences of prematurity know and understand the common acquired and congenital infections in the newborn period understand the physiology and principles of treatment of jaundice in the neonatal period understand the causes and mechanism of brain injury in term and preterm infants and its relationship to short and long term neurodevelopmental sequelae understand the principles of interpretation of blood gases mechanical ventilation, including the
understand the principles of uid and electrolyte management and nutrition in the neonate understand the advantages of breast feeding and issues related to lactation during various maternal disorders understand the principles and practice of newborn screening.
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Nephro-urology
The candidate must:
know the anatomy and embryology of the renal tract understand the physiology of normal kidney and bladder understand the pathophysiology and the histopathological changes that occur in renal disorders understand the pathophysiological mechanisms resulting in hypertension know the genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of renal and bladder disorders understand the scientic basis of imaging and physiological investigations used in renal disorders understand the pharmacology of agents commonly used in renal disorders understand the physiological basis of renal dialysis and haemoltration understand the disease associations of renal conditions with other conditions, eg HUS, deafness, hepatorenal syndrome.
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Nutrition
The candidate must:
understand the principles of body composition in children and its basic assessment, eg weight, BMI understand the scientic basis of nutrition understand the physiological basis of normal enteral nutrition and its variation throughout childhood know the constituents of a healthy diet at all ages, including the breast and formula feeding in infancy know the constitution of infant feeds commonly used in health and disease know the principles and methods of dietary supplementation, eg calories, vitamins, minerals know the principles of nutritional management in childhood disease, eg neonates, intensive care, cystic brosis know the possible nutritional consequences of being underweight and overweight on other body systems, eg cardiac and on long-term health know the epidemiology of obesity and malnutrition in global child health.
16
Ophthalmology
The candidate must:
know and understand the anatomy and embryology of the eye understand how the structure of the eye relates to function understand the normal development of vision and the pathophysiology of visual impairment know the physiology of the eye and its movement, eg pupillary reexes, anisocoria, strabismus, refractive errors, nystagmus know the genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of eye disorders understand the pharmacology of agents commonly used in eye disease, including antimicrobials and mydriatics know about the eye manifestations of common systemic and genetic diseases.
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