Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD: Diploma Level Module

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Diploma Level Module

CATS Points: 30
Academic Level 6 (Diploma)
Notional study time: 300 hours
Duration: 6 months

Why is COPD important?

• More than 900,000 people have a diagnosis of COPD but this figure is thought to be much higher with as few as 1 in 4 patients actually having their condition recognised
• Britain has one of the highest death rates from COPD in Europe
• Hospitalisations with this disease have increased 50% between 1992 and 2000
• Hospital costs in 2001-2002 amounted to £587m in the UK

What does this module offer?

This course is for health care professionals caring for patients with COPD in practice or in the community

The impact that COPD has on our patients is underestimated and the need to find and support these people is key. Studying this interactive COPD module with Education for Health will enable you confidently to identify and diagnose the disease at an early stage. It will give you the knowledge and skills to then instigate appropriate management strategies, so that the patient can continue to function as normally as possible within his or her usual home setting.

This module covers the following areas:

· COPD profile

· Guidelines and strategy overview

· Diagnosis

· Clinical settings of COPD

· Assessment

· Basic mechanisms

· Treatment (drug and non-drug)

· Risk factors and prevention

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

• Analyse the pathophysiology of COPD and its effects on the respiratory system
• Examine factors which may increase the risk of developing COPD
• Analyse the critical issues in history-taking in this field
• Assess disability and health status in COPD patients and examine their impact
• Understand the main aims of both pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment
• Use prescribed diagnostic procedures to assess lung function in COPD patients

This module will take 6 months to complete and is delivered by interactive online learning, supported by 3 study days. The study days will be a mix of facilitated sessions and informal lectures/practical sessions. All are delivered by expert practicing clinicians.