Postgraduate Course: Lifestyle Medicine in Clinical Practice (PAMA11090)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Clinical 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 | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is a 20 credit SCQF level 11 course placed within the MSc Clinical Management of Pain.
The Course will cover the evidence for and the principles and techniques that support Lifestyle Medicine (LM) in the management of pain. There will be a focus on the Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine (sleep, nutrition, movement, social connection, stress reduction and avoiding harmful substances) and how they impact on health with a particular focus on their specific role in the pain experience.
Students enrolling in this course will be expected to apply their learning to explore how they can integrate LM into their existing practice. This integration process will involve actively seeking out resources and guidance that are applicable both to their professional environment and to the specific needs of their patients. It also encourages a collaborative learning approach. Students will be required to share their findings and strategies on discussion boards, fostering a community of practice. This process will not only enable them to receive feedback but also provide support to their peers.
As part of the course assessment, students must demonstrate how they can justify the use of the resources they have identified and communicate their applicability effectively. This assessment strategy aims to enhance students' abilities to communicate change and influence others, crucial skills in the field of LM.
The course design has been influenced by the traits set out in the Edinburgh Student Vision and Curriculum Transformation Programme. It is structured to provide students with the opportunity to become disciplinary experts, equipped with advanced specialist skills, knowledge, and experience. The emphasis on using personal resources to integrate LM interventions in the context of their own practice, and the ability to communicate this justification effectively, will cultivate reflexive learners who are adept at applying solutions to real-world challenges.
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| Course description |
The course is comprised of 10 weeks of teaching; each week will comprise a theme. The course will cover:
1. Why do we need LM?
2. What is LM?
3. Pillars of LM: The role of sleep in pain management.
4. Pillars of LM: The role of nutrition in pain management.
5. Pillars of LM: The role of physical activity in pain management.
6. Pillars of LM: The role of social connection in pain management.
7. Pillars of LM: The role of stress and mental health in pain management.
8. How to practice LM? Proven techniques to support people and sustain lifestyle change.
9. How to practice LM? How to implement these techniques?
10. Assessment of impact of lifestyle interventions in clinical practice.
Students will acquire knowledge through a weekly template of activities:
. Lectures (live sessions and recorded)
. Podcasts
. Weekly reading material
. Case studies
. Critical Analysis
Discussion activities will be hosted on the weekly topics and case studies, providing a platform for collaboration between students and members of the teaching team. Students will be expected to investigate and share how they will implement their learning into the own practice and receive feedback from team members.
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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
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
MVM Online Learning Block 3 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 2,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Formative Assessment Hours 10,
Summative Assessment Hours 80,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
96 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %
Summative Assessment
Discussion Activity (20%)
Students will participate in discussions focused on lifestyle medicine topics. These sessions provide a platform for collaborative learning and sharing of insights, fostering a community of like-minded professionals.
A key component of the course involves independent research. Students are encouraged to explore and gather resources in the field of lifestyle medicine. This will generate a personal resource list and will serve as a vital tool throughout the course. Students will be expected to share their discoveries on the discussion boards and receive feedback from team members and fellow students.
Proposal (40%) - 2000 words.
At the course's midpoint, students will submit a formal proposal. This document will outline how they plan to integrate lifestyle medicine interventions and resources into their practice, serving as a guide for their final assignment.
Presentation (40%) - PowerPoint presentation, to include resource list.
The course concludes with a presentation. This final assignment involves students demonstrating how they will apply their proposal and resource list in their professional practice. It encapsulates the student's learning journey and their readiness to implement lifestyle medicine interventions in healthcare settings.
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| Feedback |
Students will receive both formative and summative feedback. Formative feedback on the resource list will come from peers and faculty, enhancing the learning process and supporting the development of the summative proposal. Summative feedback on the midway proposal and formative feedback on the resource list will provide crucial insights to support the development of the final presentation. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the key principles and concepts of Lifestyle Medicine.
- How to apply evidence-based principles of Lifestyle Medicine within their clinical practice to facilitate better health outcomes.
- Apply critical analysis of the literature when considering the impact of lifestyle change on health and disease.
- Apply critical analysis of the literature when considering the impact of lifestyle change on health and disease.
- 5. Exercise personal reflection of their clinical role and how they could implement Lifestyle Medicine to their cohort of patients.
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Reading List
Why do we need LM? Epidemic of chronic disease.
www.who.int. (n.d.). Noncommunicable diseases. [online]
Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases#tab=tab_2.
Abrams, E. M. et al. (2020) Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet (British edition). [Online] 396 (10258), 1204-1222.
What is LM?
Egger, G. (2019). Lifestyle medicine: The 'why' 'what' and 'how' of a developing discipline. Australian Journal of General Practice, 48(10), pp.665-668. doi:https://doi.org/10.31128/ajgp-06-19-4955.
Pillars of LM: Sleep
Finan, P.H., Goodin, B.R. and Smith, M.T. (2013). The Association of Sleep and Pain: An Update and a Path Forward. The Journal of Pain, [online] 14(12), pp.1539-1552. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2013.08.007.
Whibley D, AlKandari N, Kristensen K, et al. Sleep and Pain: A Systematic Review of Studies of Mediation. Clin J Pain. 2019;35(6):544-558. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000
Pillars of LM: Healthy Eating
Brain, K. et al. (2019) A systematic review and meta¿analysis of nutrition interventions for chronic noncancer pain. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics. [Online] 32 (2), 198-225
Okifuji, A. & Hare, B. D. (2015) The association between chronic pain and obesity. Journal of Pain Research. [Online] 8 (default), 399-408.
Pillars of LM: Physical activity
Geneen, L. J. et al. (2017) Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. [Online] 2017
Gordon, R. & Bloxham, S. (2016) A Systematic Review of the Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain. Healthcare (Basel). [Online] 4 (2), 22-.
NICE (2021). Chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain [E] Evidence review for exercise for chronic primary pain NICE guideline NG193 Intervention evidence review underpinning recommendations 1.2.1 to 1.2.2 in the NICE guideline. [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193/evidence/e-exercise-for-chronic-primary-pain-pdf-9071987010.
Pillars of LM: Social connection
Turk, D. & Okifuji, A. (2002) Psychological factors in chronic pain: Evolution and revolution. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology. [Online] 70 (3), 678-690.
Eisenberger, N. I. et al. (2003) Does Rejection Hurt? An fMRI Study of Social Exclusion. Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science). [Online] 302 (5643), 290-292.
Pillars of LM: Stress and Mental Health
Nicolson, K. P. et al. (2023) What is the association between childhood adversity and subsequent chronic pain in adulthood? A systematic review. BJA open. [Online] 6100139-100139.
www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Healing pain by treating the mind, with Tor Wager, PhD. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM38qIaaxeM [Accessed 22 Jan. 2024].
Gatchel, R. J. (2004) Comorbidity of chronic pain and mental health disorders: The biopsychosocial perspective. The American psychologist. [Online] 59 (8), 795-805.
How to practice LM? Proven techniques to support people and sustain lifestyle change
Rubak, S. et al. (2005) Motivational interviewing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British journal of general practice. 55 (513), 305-312.
How to practice LM? How to implement these techniques? Group consultations etc/ pre-habilitation/ examples of evidence-based interventions etc
www.groupconsultations.com. (n.d.). Group Consultations | Giving you the flexibility to deliver high quality routine care that improves outcomes for you & your patients. [online] Available at: https://www.groupconsultations.com.
Assessment of impact of lifestyle interventions in clinical practice.
Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. (n.d.). Clinical resources. [online] Available at: https://lifestylemedicine.org.au/clinical-resources/ [Accessed 22 Jan. 2024].
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Mindset
Enquiry and lifelong learning
Students will use skills in information retrieval and critical analysis to understand and evaluate the concepts and principals of Lifestyle Medicine and how they relate to the maintenance of good health, the treatment of disease and the management of pain. Students will understand how this knowledge can inform clinical practice and improve outcomes for patients including the facilitation of behaviour change.
Aspiration and personal development
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of Lifestyle Medicine.
Students will have the opportunity to gain specific understanding of how lifestyle interventions form a key part of the management of pain within a bio-psycho-social model of care.
Outlook and engagement
Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to develop and improve Lifestyle Medicine interventions within their clinical area of practice.
Research and enquiry
Students will demonstrate their ability to critically evaluate research findings and incorporate new findings into existing practices to improve patient outcomes.
Personal and intellectual autonomy
Students will have the opportunity to consider how developments in Lifestyle Medicine could be made in their own clinical context/environment.
Personal effectiveness
The students who fully engage with the course over the 10 weeks will gain the most from the taught content and focus their time for self-directed learning. By maximising these opportunities, they will develop their own knowledge and understanding as well as contributing productively to other students learning.
Communication
Effective participation and engagement with course materials will involve active communication with tutors and other students. This will allow students to direct their learning so that their own self-identified learning needs are addressed on this course.
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| Keywords | Lifestyle Medicine,Clinical Management of Pain,sleep,physical activity,nutrition |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Paul Knight
Tel:
Email: paul.knight@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Ewelina Skala
Tel: (0131 5)37 1000
Email: eskala2@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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