Medicine in Society Guide Malta 2021/22

Reflection is a key skill for all healthcare professionals and learning how to develop reflective practice is an essential part of medical education. The GMC, in collaboration with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the UK Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMeD), and the Medical Schools Council (MSC), recently published a guide for medical students on how to reflect as part of their practice. The key idea of reflective work is to promote self-awareness. It enables students to explore their understanding of themselves as medical professionals and how they relate to patients. It also provides a space where students can consider and challenge their own attitudes and perceptions, including highlighting learning points for themselves and others. There are many formats that can be used for reflection, including verbal, written and art. During the placement days, the GP tutor may suggest some topics for the group to reflect on and facilitate this. There are also some suggested questions that students might want to consider and reflect upon following each placement day.  

This year we have introduced a creative enquiry option as part of the first reflective assignment. This assignment is an example of creative enquiry which is an educational approach that invites student engagement with their lived experience through the arts. Using multiple languages of expression – arts-based and prose reflective writing has been found to extend reflection and understanding and engage the student voice and perspective. These websites, Human Flourishing and Out of Our Heads, have more information about creative enquiry and lots of examples. Students will be asked to confirm whether they give consent for their reflective pieces to be shared, to either include their details or anonymously, for a QMUL creative enquiry website that is being designed to showcase creative enquiry work by QMUL students from all year groups.  

The reflective pieces 

Each student will complete 2 pieces of reflective work during the medicine in society placement; each piece will contribute to 35% of the overall placement mark. 

Task 1: Changing identity?  Becoming a medical student  

750-1000 words without creative enquiry piece or up to 500 words with a creative enquiry piece to support your writing e.g., a photograph, drawing, poem, piece of music that helps to convey your message.  

This task is for you to consider how becoming a medical student may have changed how you, or others, perceive your identity – do you feel different since becoming a medical student and does this match your expectations? What experiences so far have prompted you to consider this, and how will this help you going forwards as you develop your professional identity?  

If you include a creative enquiry piece include your explanations of your chosen medium and offer your interpretations of any images and metaphors used.  

Students need to submit their work on QM+ and email it to their GP tutor on or before the deadline for their group as below. Late submissions will incur penalties.  

Students who do not submit and pass will not be able to sit the end of year exams until they have passed a remediation task. 

Group A Submission Deadline: Day 6 9/12/2021 

Group B Submission Deadline: Day 6 16/12/2021 

Task 2: Professional development  

750 -1000 words  

In this task the student reflects on an encounter that they have had with a patient during their placement and how this supported their professional development. Students should choose an encounter that made an impact on them and explore why this was such an important meeting for themselves and their learning.  

Students need to submit their work on QM+ and email it to their GP tutor on or before the deadline for their group as below. Late submissions will incur penalties. 

Group A Submission Deadline: Day 11 17/3/2022 

Group B Submission Deadline: Day 11 24/3/2022 

Guidance for grading the reflective pieces