Module information
Module details
- Title
- Endocrinology and Diabetes
- Type
- Specialist
- Module code
- S-CB-S1
- Credits
- 10
- Phase
- 2
- Requirement
- Compulsory
Aim of this module
This module will provide the trainee with the knowledge and understanding of the normal physiology and pathophysiology of the major endocrine organs in the body. They will appreciate the importance of clinical and biochemical parameters in diagnosing, assessing the response to treatment and monitoring patients with common endocrine disorders. Trainees will apply this knowledge as they learn to perform endocrine assays using a range of methods and gain experience of the interpretation of hormone results in common endocrine conditions.
Work-based content
Training activities
| # | Learning outcome | Training activity | Type | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # 1 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 2 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 3 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 4 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 5 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 6 | Learning outcome 2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory SOPs on patients with:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 7 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret the analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with endocrine causes of obesity, including:
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 8 | Learning outcome 1,4 |
Training activities
Perform and interpret four of the following analyses to laboratory standard operating procedures on patients with:
Differential diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes using the following test(s):
|
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 9 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,4 |
Training activities
Identify cases that require urgent intervention and offer clinical advice on the follow-up and/or further management of the patient |
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 10 | Learning outcome 4 |
Training activities
Draft and present written reports on three endocrine conditions which include the interpretation of appropriate investigations |
Type DTA | Action View |
Assessments
Complete 2 Case-Based Discussions
Complete 2 DOPS or OCEs
Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles
- Perform HbA1c analysis
- Prepare a sample for macroprolactin analysis, interpret and report the result
- Perform a manual immunoassay
- Critically interpret an external quality assessment report for an endocrine test which can be performed by multiple methods
- Interpret and report results from an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test
- Select the tests and prepare samples for the investigation of assay interference
Observed Clinical Event Titles
- Explain the test procedure for a short synacthen test to a patient
- Provide results and discuss an abnormal thyroid function test with a healthcare professional
- Explain the test procedure for an oral glucose tolerance test to a patient
Learning outcomes
| # | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 | Perform clinical and laboratory investigation, analysis and management of endocrine disorders. |
| 2 | Perform clinical and laboratory investigation, analysis and management of diabetes mellitus. |
| 3 | Practice in partnership with other clinical specialisms in the investigation of endocrine disorders and diabetes mellitus. |
| 4 | Interpret and report on clinical and laboratory investigations for endocrinology and diabetes mellitus in the correct clinical context. |
Clinical experiences
Clinical experiences help you to develop insight into your practice and a greater understanding of your specialty's impact on patient care. Clinical experiences should be included in your training plan and you may be asked to help organise your experiences. Reflections and observations from your experiences may help you to advance your practice and can be used to develop evidence to demonstrate your awareness and appreciation of your specialty.
Activities
- Attend multidisciplinary/clinical review meetings at which biochemical results of endocrine disorders are presented as part of the clinical record.
- Attend ward rounds and clinics at which patients are being investigated for endocrine disease to appreciate the patient experience and the role of ward rounds and clinics in providing patient care.
- Visit a GP centre/outreach clinic to appreciate the role of biochemistry in patient care and the wider multidisciplinary team providing care.
- Attend an endocrine investigation unit to observe patients undergoing dynamic function tests to appreciate the patient experience of their care.
Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)
Important information
The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:
- Explain, compare and contrast the synthesis, regulation, metabolism and modes of action of hormones in health and disease.
- Apply integrative knowledge of the use of laboratory testing, including dynamic function tests to differentiate and diagnose endocrine disorders.
- Describe how to derive appropriate reference intervals for different patient groups, the importance of biological variation and interference when interpreting hormone results.
- Critically evaluate the clinical and laboratory investigation strategies of a wide range of endocrine disorders.
- Critically evaluate the design, operation and performance of the range of methods used in the measurement of hormones.
- Explain the causes, classification and investigation of diabetes mellitus using the underpinning evidence base.
- Critically evaluate the design, operation and performance of the range of laboratory and point-of-care methods used in the screening, diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes mellitus.
Indicative content
- Physiology of endocrine systems, hormones and hormone action.
- Methods used for measuring hormones in biological samples.
- Biological variability and its impact on reference values in endocrinology.
- Reference intervals for undisclosed sex and transgender patients.
- Normal physiology, pathophysiology and investigation of hormone excess and deficient states of:
- Pituitary gland (anterior and posterior): Function, disorders, investigations and test result interpretation (including dynamic function tests)
- Growth: Regulation, hormones and disorders
- Thyroid gland: Anatomy/function/hormone production, regulation and transport. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) and other thyroid related investigations. Factors affecting TFT results. Non-Thyroidal illness. Hypo/hyperthyroidism, including diagnosis and management and test interpretation according current guidelines. Thyroid cancer.
- Gonads (ovaries and testes): Gonadal function and related hormone control, amenorrhoea, menopause, erectile dysfunction and andropause, including biochemical assessment and investigations. Polycystic ovarian syndrome pathogenesis, including investigations, diagnostic criteria and management. Investigations of infertility.
- Adrenal glands: Medulla function, disorders and investigations (e.g. catecholamine secreting tumours. Cortex function, disorders and investigations (e.g. adrenal insufficiency, Cushing’s, hyper/hypoaldosteronism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia)
- Endocrinology of the gastrointestinal tract (hormones, regulation, disorders and investigations). Intestinal and pancreatic function testing.
- Diabetes Mellitus: Causes, classification and pathophysiology. Complications of diabetes (acute/chronic). Laboratory analysis, diagnosis and management.
- New developments in endocrinology.