79020 - Problem Oriented Approach - Companion Animals

Learning outcomes

The goal of the course is to make the student able to use all the didactical tools useful to obtain the relevant information to solve a clinical problem. The learning objectives are obtained through the thorough discussion of a clinical case, in order to facilitate the active learning and improve the awareness of the student.

Primary learning objectives include being able to : 

- understand the anamnesis and the clinical signs 

- integrate all the information of the physical exam in the emission of the clinical diagnosis  

- search in a proper way the scientific information concerning the clinical differential diagnoses 

- critically evaluate the information found in the literature 

- communicate efficiently with the owner 

- plan an adrequate diagnostic work-up 

- understand and interpretate the results of the diagnostic work up 

- plan an adequate therapy

Course contents

The course approaches the major companion animals disorders through the critical evaluation of eight clinical cases concerning : neurology (2), endocrinology, nephrology, cardiology, oncology, exotic and wild animals medicine and emergency medicine. 
Specifically, the course emphasizes the importance of the clinical methodology , applied for each clinical case. 

The course is organized in different independent tracks, organized according to the "problem oriented approach". Each  track is completed by the fnal discussion performed by the students, of the clinical case.
Each teacher is responsible for his track and has to :  - decide which disorders should be discussed during the lessons;  - prepare the education material for the students  - decide the scheme of the lessons.

Readings/Bibliography

the specific organization of the course considers the search of the  information for the work up of the case in real time during the work in groups, including the use of internet and web search .  the student is encouraged to obtain the didactic material, consisting of scientific papers, books, web pages, original material of the Faculty Didactic Portal.

Teaching methods

The teaching method is based on the principles of the active learning and the group work under tutorial supervision. The discussion of the clinical case is the opportunity for the student to reproduce a diagnostic pathway according to teh evidence-based and  logic-deductive methodology. The steps include the ability to get autonomously the information necessary to make progresses in the work-up of the case till its resolution.

Assessment methods

The outcome assessment is made at the end of the course, when each group presents its clinical case on a powerpoint presentation. Students are evaluated by the other students and teachers. Specifically, will be evaluated  the logic and sequential procedure, the acquisition of the relevant scientific information  the communication capacity and  the efficacy in the exposition.

Teaching tools

The course is held in the IT lab . Students work in four groups on two computers for each group and have to work up the clinical case according to the steps that have been planned by the teacher..  The course encourages the active learning process through the self-directed learning and the group discussion , including the interaction with the tutor/teacher

Office hours

See the website of Gualtiero Gandini

See the website of Federico Fracassi

See the website of Francesco Dondi

See the website of Marco Baron Toaldo

See the website of Massimo Giunti

See the website of Giuliano Bettini

See the website of Mauro Delogu