Paediatrics - 5th year
General Information
Dear students,
Welcome to the 5th year and to the Department of Paediatrics LFUK and NÚDCH, where your tuition of Paediatrics 1 and 2 will take place in the upcoming two terms.
All necessary information regarding the courses Paediatrics 1 and 2 can be found on this website, in MS Teams, or in the document Course Information.
We look forward to meeting you personally and to your cooperation.
Doc. MUDr. Tomáš Dallos, PhD.
(responsible for the tuition of Paediatrics in the 5th year)
Brief Description and Expected Learning Outcomes
During the Paediatrics 1 and 2 courses, students will become acquainted with the fundamentals of nutrition, physiological specificities, and pathological conditions in children of various ages, including life-threatening conditions. They will acquire the basics of communication with children and their legal guardians. Students will gain skills in using standard clinical and laboratory examination methods. Based on the acquired knowledge, they will practice establishing a working diagnosis and differential diagnosis of paediatric diseases. After completing the course, students will be able to propose a diagnostic and therapeutic plan for common conditions in paediatric patients.
Main Educational Activities
- Lectures: Team-based learning, lectures, collaboration with preclinical disciplines
- Seminars: Interactive seminars using problem-based learning (PBL) or case-based learning (CBL) and clinical reasoning, self-study
- Practical exercises: Simulation-based teaching (teaching on a medical simulator), medical trainers, role-play
Contacts
Head of Department
prof. MUDr. Ľudmila Podracká, CSc.
02/59371 209
Office Administrator
Mgr. Petronela Petráš
02/59371 209
NÚDCH, block E, 6th floor, office No. 666
- Please, address all official requests, letters of confirmation, inquiries about the summer practice, etc. to the Office Administrator exclusively and not to your teachers!
Responsible contact for the tuition of Paediatrics in the 5th year
Doc. MUDr. Tomáš Dallos, PhD.
02/59371 104
- Communication with students exclusively via MS Teams!!! (dallos1) - organisational problems, absences, substitutions, exams
- Please, post all questions that may be relevant to all 5th-year students in the general channel of the Paediatrics 5Y GM 2024/25 team in MS Teams
Tuition Organization
1. Lectures
Lectures are held in person.
Lecture location: Library of the Department of Paediatrics, room 604, 6th floor of NUDCH - in front of the Department 6B
Team-Based Learning (TBL): NÚDCH lecture halls, Limbová 1, Bratislava
Lecture materials: MS Teams, Paediatrics 5Y GM 2024/25 team > Documents > General > Class materials > LECTURES.
Link: STUDY MATERIALS
2. Self-Study
Self-study: activities according to the schedule, for example:
Note: Practical teaching at the paediatric wards is most beneficial to students who come prepared. Self-study materials are designed to help the student to benefit as much as possible from the subsequent practical teaching (arrows). Remember, an integral part of practical teaching is the student’s home preparation!
3. Practical Tuition
Practical tuition of PAEDIATRICS takes place in both the winter and summer terms in the form of block teaching (5 days in 1 week):
1. On the premises of the National Institute of Children’s Diseases - NÚDCH (Limbová 1, Bratislava, www.nudch.eu):
- at the Department of Paediatrics (DK) - block E, 4th and 6th floor
- at the Department of Neonatology and Intensive Medicine (NKIM) - block C, 4th floor
- in the Simulation Centre of DK NÚDCH - block F, room F-311 - near the students’ changing rooms
2. On the premises of the Paediatric Cardiac Centre of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (Detské kardiocentrum, DKC NÚSCH, Pod Krásnou hôrkou 1, Bratislava, www.detskekardiocentrum.sk). Please, pay attention to the organisation at DKC described below.
At the Department of Paediatrics, tuition starts at 08.30 AM every day. We expect students to be prepared (dressed in medical garments with necessary equipment) at the tuition sites given in the internal timetable. The first daily block of classes begins at 8:30 AM and the second at 11:00 AM. Please be punctual! Seminars, practical teaching, and other educational activities, including simulation-based learning, are prepared for students, and students arriving late significantly disrupt these activities.
The location of tuition sites is given in the Department of Paediatrics timetable.
A. Paediatric practical sessions at the bedside:
- Wards 4B, 6A and 6B of the Dpt. of Paediatrics on the 4th and 6th floor, the student meeting point is in front of the respective ward
B. Seminars/learning activities at the Dpt. of Paediatrics:
- Department of Paediatrics, NÚDCH, block E, 4th and 6th floor (in front of the wards) - rooms E604, E 664, E405, E465
C. Practical Skills Training:
- SKILLS lab NÚDCH, block E, 4th floor, in front of Ward 4B (room E405 - door with the butterfly)
D. Medical Simulations:
- Simulation centre DK NÚDCH: block F, - 3rd floor, room F311, near the students’ changing rooms
E. Seminars in Neonatology:
- Library of NKIM (4th floor, block C, NÚDCH)
F. Neonatology practical sessions at the bedside:
- Wards of NKIM (4th floor, block C, NÚDCH)
G. Cardiology practical sessions at the bedside:
- Wards of the Paediatric Cardiac Centre DKC NÚSCH (Ped-cardiology ward on the -1st floor, DKC NÚSCH, Pod Krásnou hôrkou 1)
Tuition at the Paediatric Cardiology Centre (DKC) NÚSCH
Each student will complete 1 seminar and 1 practical session with teachers from DKC NÚSCH. Unless otherwise announced, Cardiology seminars will also be held in the same way as DK-organized seminars in the premises of DK NÚDCH (see above).
Practical sessions in Cardiology take place directly at the DKC NÚSCH wards (Pod Krásnou hôrkou 1, Bratislava). The DKC pavilion is located in the lower part of the NÚSCH complex, and the entrance is on the -2nd floor, where the student locker room and Administrator Office are also located. One representative from each study group will exchange their ISIC card for an electronic card at the reception office, which allows movement within the DKC premises.
The cardiology ward, where the practical sessions take place, is located on the -1st floor of DKC (1 floor above the entrance floor). The seminar room is on the +2nd floor, where the DKC Administrator Office is also located.
Basic Rules for Practical Paediatric Tuition
Please adhere to the following rules during your practical Paediatrics tuition:
- Punctuality: Arrive on time at the designated location for practical session.
- Identification: Always wear your student ID (ISIC) in a visible place.
- Attire: Maintain a neat appearance. Wear appropriate attire, including a white coat or medical scrubs and indoor shoes.
- Equipment: Bring necessary equipment such as a stethoscope, pen, notebook, and your mobile phone.
- Hand Hygiene: Always maintain hand hygiene!
- Hygiene and Infection Control: Adhere to hygiene and basic infection control measures.
- No Food or Drink: Do not consume any food or drinks in the clinical wards (outpatient clinics, departments). Bringing any food or beverages into the DK NÚDCH departments is strictly prohibited.
- Patient Interaction: Be polite and friendly to patients and their legal guardians. Always introduce yourself and state that you are a medical student. Our young patients always appreciate your genuine interest and humane approach.
- Professionalism: Be polite and collegial towards all healthcare personnel and follow their instructions.
- Medical Records: Never remove medical records from the premises of the Department of Paediatrics.
- Confidentiality: Strictly maintain confidentiality regarding patients’ personal and health information, both on and off the NÚDCH premises.
- Information Sharing: Do not provide any information to patients or their legal guardians unless explicitly requested by the responsible healthcare personnel.
- Questions: If you have any questions, please ask your teachers.
Attendance Policy
The Paediatrics course is structured and standardised. Except for announced exceptions, the teaching during the weekly blocks of Paediatrics 1 and 2 always follows the same pattern: the program for a given day of the week is always the same. The weeks differ only in that the teaching is conducted solely in Slovak, solely in English, or in both languages. If a student misses one day of teaching, they can only substitute on the same day of the week in another week of the term.
1. One day (20% of a total of 5 days during 1 semester) of excused absence is accepted, e.g., due to a doctor’s visit. A scan/photo of the confirmation must be sent via the MS Teams chat to Doc. MUDr. T. Dallos, PhD. (dallos1)
2. If students wish to substitute for an absence, they should proceed as follows:
- find in your university timetable an equivalent day of the week when you have time to substitute
- find in the timetable of the Dpt. of Paediatrics a study group that has the same session as you missed
- contact Doc. MUDr. T. Dallos, PhD. as soon as possible via MS Teams chat (dallos1) with your suggestion on what day and with which study group you wish to substitute
3. If students are interested, they may substitute even if their 1-day absence was justified
4. Students can also substitute with Slovak-speaking study groups, provided their Slovak skills allow them to actively participate in the teaching
5. We recommend students resolve absences as soon as possible, as the further into the semester, the lower the chance of finding a space in the student’s schedule and a compatible study group
Academic Integrity Statement
Students adhere to the Internal Regulation of Comenius University in Bratislava No. 23/2016, The Code of Conduct of Comenius University in Bratislava. Accordingly, students are not allowed to cheat and plagiarise. Breaches of the Code of Conduct or of general moral principles will be dealt with by the independent CU Ethics Board.
Prerequisite
A prerequisite for studying Paediatrics 1 is successfully passing the Internal Medicine 3 and Surgery 2 exams. A prerequisite for studying Paediatrics 2 is successfully passing the Paediatrics 1 exam. Students who do not meet this condition may attend Paediatrics 1 or 2 courses, but unless they meet the prerequisite conditions, they cannot take credit tests, obtain credits, or be admitted to the final exam.
Final Assessment
Students will complete courses Paediatrics 1 and 2 with a graded credit. Successful completion of a graded online test during the winter semester (Paediatrics 1) or at the end of the summer semester (Paediatrics 2) is a condition for obtaining credits and completing the courses.
The aim of the written/online testing is to verify the knowledge that students have acquired during the respective semester and to objectively assess this knowledge. The test result determines the grade with which the student will be classified (exam).
Students are strongly advised to use only their own login credentials to log into the Moodle testing platform, as otherwise, they may not be granted access to the test, or their results may be recorded under the wrong name.
Paediatrics 1 Testing Organization (Winter Term)
Following the 1-week-long practical tuition in Paediatrics, students will take a short online test. Successful completion of this test is a requirement for obtaining the credits. At the end of the practical tuition, students will receive a link to the Moodle test via MS Teams – they can complete the test by the end of that week. The test will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions (one correct answer). Students will have 30 minutes to complete the test and can only attempt it once. If a student does not achieve the minimum required score (60%) on their first attempt, they will have the opportunity to retake the test at the end of the term.
Assessment | Score |
Passed | ≥ 60% / ≥ 30 points |
A | 47-50 points |
B | 43-46 points |
C | 39-42 points |
D | 35-38 points |
E | 30-34 points |
Failed - Fx | < 60% / < 30 points |
Paediatrics 2 Testing Organization (Summer Term)
For 5th-year students, teaching staff prepare new test questions each semester. These questions are based on lectures, seminars, practical training content, and recommended literature. They cover all the fundamentals of paediatrics – propaedeutics (winter semester) and all the topics taught and practised in the various subspecialties of paediatrics (summer semester).
Testing is conducted as an online test on the Moodle platform at the end of the summer semester (at least one week after the completion of practical training for all students) or during the exam period. Three rounds of testing will take place at weekly intervals. The exact dates and times of all three rounds of testing will be published on MS Teams during the semester, at least one month before the first test.
The first round of testing is compulsory for all students in the 5th year! Although the test typically takes place at 15:00, we recommend that students DO NOT book exams for other subjects on this day that might not finish by this time. Exceptions to this rule, apart from serious reasons assessed by the responsible teacher or subject coordinator, will not be granted!!!
If a student passes the first round (achieves at least the minimum number of points), they will receive a grade (from A to E) based on the number of points achieved.
If a student passes but wishes to achieve a better result, they may participate in a subsequent round of testing. A condition of such a procedure is to record a grade of Fx for the previous round of testing. The final assessment will be based on the score from the last test, even if it is worse than the previous test.
If a student fails the first round (does not achieve the minimum required number of points), they will participate in the next round of testing.
Paediatrics 2 Test (Summer Term)
All students (both Slovak and international) will complete the test simultaneously. A link to the online test will be posted in MS Teams immediately before the testing. The test will be accessible and can only be submitted within a predefined time interval. The test will consist of 100 questions with 1 correct answer out of 4 possible answers. Please note that in addition to the classic single-choice questions (only one correct answer), the test will also include single-best choice or best of four questions (all answers are essentially correct, but only one is the best). You must select one answer for each question; otherwise, the test cannot be submitted. The time allotted to complete the test is 60 minutes.
Paediatrics 2 Test Assessment (Summer Term)
To pass the test, a student must achieve a minimum of 60% of the total score (60 out of 100 points). The remaining test grades will not be predefined but will be determined by the level of answers of all successful students in the first round of testing. The results of all students (studying in both Slovak and English) who achieve a minimum of 60% in the first round of testing will be ranked by score and divided into 5 groups as follows (percentile ranking):
Assessment | Score | Assessment | Score |
Passed | ≥ 60% points | Failed | < 60% points |
A | ≥ than in 90% of successful students | Fx | < 60% points |
B | ≥ than in 70% and < 90% of successful students |
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C | ≥ than in 30% and < 70% of successful students |
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D | ≥ than in 10% and < 30% of successful students |
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E | < than in 10% of successful students |
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Students on the percentile boundary will be awarded the higher grade, meaning that if a score has already appeared in the category of students with a higher grade, the higher grade will be awarded to all students with the same number of points.
For subsequent rounds of testing, the reference score ranges for the corresponding grades from the first round of testing will apply.
Note
Students are advised that under this grading system, using unauthorised aids or helping other students increases the class average, raises the bar for achieving a higher grade, and may ultimately lead to a lower grade for one’s own performance. This evaluation system reflects the level of the entire year group and assesses a student’s performance in relation to their peers. It also relativises the impact of the difficulty of the test on the student’s final results, as these are not dependent on teacher-defined score ranges but on the level of knowledge of all students.
The aim is to ensure the fairest possible assessment of students’ performance.
Requirements for Passing the Course
Paediatrics 1
- 100% attendance at practical tuition (20% absence permitted, provided by valid documentation)
- completion of one written/online test at the end of practical tuition (min. 60% must be achieved)
Paediatrics 2
- 100% attendance at practical tuition (20% absence permitted, provided by valid documentation)
- successful completion of a practical examination (patient examination)
- completion of one written/online test at the end of practical teaching (min. 60% must be achieved)
Assessment of Teaching Quality
For several years, we have been striving to evaluate the quality of teaching at the Department of Paediatrics and incorporate student feedback into further improvements in the organisation and content of Paediatrics teaching. Therefore, you are part of our effort to provide students with the highest-quality teaching in our field.
We therefore kindly ask you to complete the online Paediatrics Student feedback questionnaire, ideally immediately after completing your placements, but if you do not, we will still ask you at the end of the semester.
Student feedback questionnaire link: https://forms.office.com/e/KqGCstxSFn
The system allows each 5th-year student to complete the survey only once (you must be logged into MS Teams), but it does not record your identity, so it is anonymous.
Thank you very much!
Recommended literature
Paediatrics 1
- Kovács L. et al: Pediatric Propedeutics - Workbook for Medical Students, BUX, Bratislava, 2014, 150 s.
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics, 6th Edition, Elsevier, 2021
- Muntau AC. Kurzlehrbuch Pädiatrie. Urban&Fischer Elsevier 2015 (German)
- Shah A, Acerini CL, Holloway E, Lillitos P, Tasker RC. Oxford Handbook of Paediatrics, Oxford University Press, 2021
Paediatrics 2
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics, 6th Edition, Elsevier, 2021
- Marcdante K, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM, Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics 9th Edition, Elsevier, 2022
- Kovács L. et al.: Pediatric Propedeutics - Workbook for Medical Students, BUX, Bratislava, 2014, 150 s.
- Muntau AC. Pädiatrie Hoch 2. Urban&Fischer Elsevier 2018 (German)
- Muntau AC. Kurzlehrbuch Pädiatrie. Urban&Fischer Elsevier 2015 (German)
- Shah A, Acerini CL, Holloway E, Lillitos P, Tasker RC. Oxford Handbook of Paediatrics, Oxford University Press, 2021
NÚDCH Sitemap
Medical students are kindly requested to enter the NÚDCH building through the entrance on the -2nd floor.
Upon getting off the trolleybus at the "Magurská" stop, please follow the path downhill, which is also used by ambulances to reach NÚDCH. The entrance to the -2nd floor is located at the end of the railing on the left.
Please note that security personnel have the authority to check your student ID (ISIC). It is therefore advisable to carry your ISIC with you at all times.
While on the premises of NÚDCH, students are required to wear appropriate medical attire, such as scrubs or at least a white gown. Additionally, please ensure you change into appropriate footwear.
NÚDCH provides a student changing room located on the -3rd floor of Block F. This block is situated beneath the lecture halls and adjacent to the Simulation Center. For a better understanding of the building layout, please refer to the sitemap.
Lockers are available within the changing room for storing your belongings. To ensure the security of your items, please bring your own small padlock.
It is strictly prohibited to wear civilian clothing or carry any bags onto the wards.
Thank you for your cooperation.
