Postgraduate Course: The Management of Acute Pain (PAMA11053)
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 | Pain, as a presenting complaint, is the most common reason for people to seek health care advice. This course provides the opportunity for students to understand the scope of the problem of acute pain, the mechanisms of acute pain and the benefits and barriers to specific pain interventions.
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| Course description |
This course of study is an elective subject in the Cert/Dip/MSc in the Clinical Management of Pain programme. It aims to provide you with an opportunity to build on the information presented in the core courses of study to examine acute pain in more depth. You will also be asked to consider the evidence for various acute pain management guidelines, explore the gaps between evidence and practice and also understand how to implement change in clinical practice. It also enables you to apply your understanding to specific acute pain conditions and situations and better understand the associated issues in relation to acute pain management. This is a 10-week distance learning course worth 20 credits. You are expected to spend 20 hours per week on this course. You will be given a brief overview of the course and will then be provided with relevant materials and resources. Specific tasks and online exercises relating to each weeks topic will be set. A final submitted assessment will be required for the course. This is an elective course and may not be available every academic year. This will be subject to student numbers and availability of academic staff.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
MVM Online Learning Block 2 |
| Course Start Date |
05/01/2026 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 2,
Online Activities 2,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 10,
Formative Assessment Hours 10,
Summative Assessment Hours 60,
Revision Session Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
100 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment and Feedback in this course is covered by the University of Edinburgh Assessment and Feedback Principles and Priorities. These can be found at this link https://edwebcontent.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/assessmentfeedbackprinciplespriorities.pdf .
The key principles that underpin assessment activities are evidence-based practice and the application of theory to clinical practice.
Assessment will consist of the following:
Assignment 1: Reflective Blogs 20% (2x 10%)
Discussion boards will be formative, however will inform and shape 2 summative reflective blogs (2 x 500 words).
Assignment 2: Critical Analysis of Research 30%
You will be asked to critique a clinical research paper focusing on inpatient pain management. A formative opportunity will be provided for you to discuss your paper in a live session(s) with your peers and the teaching team.
You will be asked to submit a 1000-word summative written critical analysis on the research paper.
Assignment 3: Case Study
You will be provided with a clinical case study and will appraise appropriate treatment options taking cognisance of your learning throughout the course.
The submission will be a 2000-word summative written submission.
If you fail to make a reasonable attempt at any of the assessments in the course, you risk a failing grade for the course, which may have repercussions in your ability to achieve a final award in the programme. |
| Feedback |
Assessment and Feedback in this course is covered by the University of Edinburgh Assessment and Feedback Principles and Priorities. These can be found at this link https://edwebcontent.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/assessmentfeedbackprinciplespriorities.pdf .
Throughout your studies, you will receive regular feedback on your work. This helps to maximise the effectiveness of learning and teaching and enhances your performance. Feedback can be any comment from another person that may result in improving your learning and understanding. It is important to remember that feedback is not always in written form on a marked piece of work. Whilst feedback can take this form, most of the feedback you will receive during your university career may not associated with a mark.
Feedback is provided on all items of in-course assessment, both summative and formative. Formative feedback may take the form of group feedback where only salient points for the whole group are provided.
When marked work is returned to you, it is your responsibility to read and think about the feedback given and not just look at the mark. The feedback gives you an indication of what you did well, what you misunderstood and what you did not address correctly. If you have any questions, please contact the named Course Organiser. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically appraise current knowledge and understanding of pain assessment in the inpatient setting, including the integration of biological, psychological, and social factors. (knowledge and understanding)
- Formulate patient-centred treatment plans, by applying contemporary theories of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, towards optimising pain management and outcomes in inpatient settings. (applied knowledge, skills and understanding)
- Critically evaluate current challenges in pain management and patient communication in inpatient care and develop strategies for post-discharge care that reflect current innovations. (generic cognitive skills)
- Apply a range of appropriate ICT applications to support and enhance your own learning and communicate effectively with peers and multidisciplinary teams. (communication, ICT, working with others)
- Critically evaluate current ethical standards and safety protocols in inpatient pain management, including current practices in opioid stewardship and risk assessment. (autonomy, accountability)
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Reading List
A list of Learning Resources will be provided to ensure access to appropriate and relevant resources to enable full participation in this course.
Details about the Learning Resource Lists can be found at https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/research-teaching-staff/resource-lists/information-for-students .
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Enquiry and lifelong learning:
Students will use skills in information retrieval and critical analysis to understand and evaluate the concepts and principals of inpatient pain management. Students will understand how this knowledge can inform clinical practice and improve outcomes for patients.
Aspiration and personal development
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of inpatient pain. Students will have the opportunity to gain specific understanding of how specific clinical interventions work together to ensure excellent in patient pain management within the lens of the bio-psycho-social model of care.
Outlook and engagement
Students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to develop and improve in patient pain management within their clinical area of practice or in future clinical practice.
Research and enquiry
Students will demonstrate their ability to critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise 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 in patient pain management 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. |
| Special Arrangements |
None |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mrs Liz Colquhoun
Tel:
Email: liz.colquhoun@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Ewelina Skala
Tel: (0131 5)37 1000
Email: eskala2@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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