Postgraduate Course: Cancer in Primary Care (GLHE11061)
This course will be closed from 13 January 2017
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will outline the basic principles of early diagnosis and cancer screening in resource-poor settings, focusing on cervical, oral and lung cancer. It will include the logistics of cancer screening, and barriers to early diagnosis. It will ask how primary care can become more involved in cancer treatment and survivorship and what are the basic principles of primary palliative care. |
| Course description |
Global Health aspects, epidemiology, health promotion/prevention.
An introduction to the Global burden of malignant disease as one of the non-communicable diseases. This should extend to aspects such as economic impact. Epidemiology of cancer worldwide should be presented and the students invited to consider how this impacts of their work locally. Aspects of health promotion that are evidence based in preventing cancer should be included.
Screening for cancer
An introduction to the theory behind screening /elements of an ideal screening programme/ limitations of screening. A mention of common cancers that are screened for (breast, cervix, colorectal) and what is involved in screening programme. Presentation of a screening programme that has been implemented eg cervical screening at CMC to provide an example and promote discussion on above themes. Overview of principles of cancer screening in resource-poor settings
Diagnosing cancer in primary care
Discussion of the common clinical signs which indicate that a malignancy may be present including those that indicate urgent referral is required. Discussion of investigations that can be initiated in Family Practice and their limitations (eg PSA, CA125, ultrasound). Information on the follow up and holistic care of a patient who has been diagnosed, is undergoing treatment or has been discharged from care.
Palliative care
Introduction to the basic principles of palliative care in the community including pharmacology, holistic family-focused care and other end of life issues. An overview of the key issues in delivering palliative care in resource poor settings
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have a critical awareness of low-technology approaches to cancer screening, focussing on cervical, oral and lung cancer; the logistics of cancer screening and barriers to early diagnosis; the role of primary care in cancer treatment and survivorship
- Apply the principles of early diagnosis, cancer screening and primary palliative care to practice in resource-poor settings
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Cancer screening,primary care,diagnosis,palliative care,resource-poor settings,pharmacology. |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof David Weller
Tel: (0131 6)50 2807
Email: David.Weller@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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