Postgraduate Course: Palliative Care and Pain Management (GMED11066)

Course Outline
School	Deanery of Clinical Sciences	College	College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	10	ECTS Credits	5
Summary	This course will provide a detailed knowledge and understanding of palliative care through the study of case scenarios, online lectures and background reading with the aim of improving clinical management of patients requiring end of life care and symptom management. This course will specifically cover; an introduction to palliative care, recognising and managing the end of life experience, talking and planning for death, communicating well with patients ('the difficult conversation'), policy and practicalities of achieving a good death for all, and spiritual dimensions of dying in pluralist societies. In additional aspects of symptom control will be covered with material relating to the pharmacology of analgesia, the analgesic ladder, breakthrough pain and the Liverpool care pathway.
Course description	Not entered

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered

Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the course the candidate should have an improved perception of who would benefit from palliative care management, and the wide- ranging factors that need to be considered when dealing with dying patients. In addition practical guidance will be given about how to manage symptoms effectively. The student should: ż Understand what palliative care is and who might benefit (including recognising the dying patient) ż Understand the theory behind communication bad news sensitively ż Understand the importance of managing end of life issues well, and be aware of policies and guidelines that may help achieve this ż Understand the need for sensitivity with regards spiritual and cultural needs of patients ż Be aware of the main classes of drugs used for symptom control and their appropriate use and escalation