Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – BSc

Respiratory disease is responsible for much acute and chronic ill health. It is one of the most common reasons why people consult their general practitioner and accounts for a substantial number of acute hospital admissions. There is a high incidence of both asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] within East London and there are specialist asthma and COPD clinics run within primary and secondary care. The British Thoracic Society asthma and COPD guidelines identify the need for educational programmes to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based guidelines.

The course aims to influence and change your respiratory practice in relation to asthma and COPD by increasing your knowledge, expertise and practical skills.

Who is it for?

This course is for any healthcare practitioner who wishes to extend their knowledge and understanding of either asthma and COPD or both.

Timetable

This course runs over 5 weeks with one study day per week on a Thursday between 9.00am and 4pm. This course usually runs in April/May.

Term 3

May: Thursday 25 May 2023
June: Thursday 1, 8, 15 and 22 June 2023

Care Study / Protocol Submission: 20 July 2023

Benefits

This course is worth 15 credits at Level 6.

The content of this course includes:

• overview of respiratory anatomy and physiology
• obstructive lung disease pathophysiology
• asthma and COPD background and guidelines
• assessment and diagnosis in chronic respiratory disease
• pulmonary function tests and spirometry
• pharmacological treatments in asthma and COPD
• oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation
• self-management strategies, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Apply knowledge of pharmacology and disordered pathophysiology in clinical decision making
• Critically apply knowledge of evidence-based guidelines in relation to asthma and COPD care in changing practice environments.

Skills:

• Critically discuss strategies to promote self-management and adherence
• Utilise acquired assessment skills and knowledge, to influence patient outcomes
• Critically consider the most effective way of promoting an inter-professional approach to asthma and COPD care
• Critically assess the psychological and social impact of chronic illness upon the individual, their family and significant others

Values and attitudes:

• To promote and develop concordant relationships with clients and their carers, with the aim of positively influencing their health choices and decisions.

This course is worth 15 credits at Level 6.

Teaching will include lectures, group discussion, practicals and a laboratory session.

This assessment requires you to write a 2,500-word care study based on a patient with either COPD or asthma that you have cared for or managed within your clinical setting.

In order to pass the course you need to achieve a grade of 40% or greater for the case study.

You can request a transcript of your result following successful completion of the course

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Non EEA students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone course.

• You must be a qualified nurse or allied healthcare professional either in the UK or overseas.

Work/Clinical Placement Requirements

The course requires you to be:

• Working in a suitable practice area
• Working in a clinical placement

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

• Aaron, S. (2014) Management and prevention of exacerbations of COPD. BMJ, 349(sep22 3), pp.g5237- g5237.
• Badaran, E., Ortega, E., Bujalance, C., Puerto, L., Torres, M. and Riesco, J. (2012). Smoking and COPD exacerbations. European Respiratory Society.
• Bolton, C., Bevan-Smith, E., Blakey, J., Crowe, P., Elkin, S., Garrod, R., Greening, N., Heslop, K., Hull, J., Man, W., Morgan, M., Proud, D., Roberts, C., Sewell, L., Singh, S., Walker, P. and Walmsley, S. (2013). British Thoracic Society guideline on pulmonary rehabilitation in adults: accredited by NICE. Thorax, 68(Suppl 2), pp.ii1 ii30.
• GOLD, 2016. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease – Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - GOLD. [online] Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - GOLD.
• Marieb EN and Hoenh KN (2016) Human Anatomy & Physiology, 10th Edition. Pearson,
• NICE Guidance
• Puhan, M., Spaar, A., Frey, M., Turk, A., Brändli, O., Ritscher, D., Achermann, E., Kaelin, R. and Karrer, W. (2012). Early versus Late Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with Acute Exacerbations: Randomized Trial. Respiration, 83(6), pp.499-506.
• Vestbo, J. and Lange, P,(2015). Prevention of COPD exacerbations: medications and other controversies. ERJ Open Research, 1(1), pp.00011-2015.
• Wedzicha, J., Miravitlles, M., Hurst, J., Calverley, P., Albert, R., Anzueto, A., Criner, G., Papi, A., Rabe, K., Rigau, D., Sliwinski, P., Tonia, T., Vestbo, J., Wilson, K. and Krishnan, J. (2017). Management of COPD exacerbations: a European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society guideline. European Respiratory Journal, 49(3) p.1600791.