Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – MSc

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.

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.

As this is a Level 7 course you should ideally have studied at Level 6 or 7 previously.

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 7 and can be taken as part of a postgraduate or MSc programme. It can also be taken as a stand-alone course.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

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
• the relevance of guidelines for clinical practice
• self-management strategies, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation.

By the end of the course you will be able to

Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate in depth knowledge of pharmacology and disordered pathophysiology in clinical decision making
• Critically examine and evaluate knowledge of evidence-based guidelines in relation to asthma and COPD care

Skills

• Critically evaluate and justify strategies to promote self-management and adherence
• Critically evaluate and apply acquired assessment skills and critically demonstrate the ability to influence patient outcomes
• Critically evaluate and appraise the most effective way of promoting an inter- professional approach to asthma and COPD care.

Values and attitudes

• Critically evaluate and assess the psychological and social impact of chronic illness upon the individual, their family and significant others.

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

You will identify an existing protocol that you currently use and provide a 2,500-word written critique of it to support its application to your clinical area.

In order to pass the course you need to achieve a grade of 50% 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.

Work/Clinical Placement Requirements

The course requires you to be:

• Working in a suitable practice area
• Working in a clinical placement
• a qualified nurse or allied healthcare professional either in the UK or overseas.

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. [online] 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.