Postgraduate Course: Understanding the Pharmacological Management of Pain (PAMA11068)
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 | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
Summary | This course provides participants with an understanding of the pharmacological management of pain. Current topics of pharmacological management are explored as are new directions in management. |
Course description |
This course is the fourth of six compulsory subjects in the Clinical Management of Pain programme. This is a 5-week, 10 credit, distance learning course. You are expected to spend 20 hours per week on this course.
You will be given an overview of the course and will be provided with materials and resources relating to the pharmacological management of pain. Individual and group and online exercises relating to each weeks topic will be set.
The final assignment will ask you to assimilate your knowledge, critically appraise the literature and review the case study to produce a written assessment.
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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 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:
100
(
Lecture Hours 5,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 15,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5,
Formative Assessment Hours 3,
Summative Assessment Hours 30,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
40 )
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Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
40
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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:
Assessment 1: Contribution to asynchronous Discussion Board 10% (2% x 5 weeks)
Assessment 2: Submission of a 2000 word written case review (90%)
(Formative Assessment: essay plan)
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:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of pharmacological interventions in the clinical management of the pain.
- Evaluate key pharmacological mechanisms involved in pain management based on the latest available research evidence.
- Critically assess the impact of pharmacological interventions on patient outcomes in pain management.
- Critically assess and interpret current pharmacological pain management guidelines, identifying their relevance and limitations in diverse clinical contexts.
- Evaluate the ethical and professional responsibilities of pain prescribing, demonstrating leadership in patient-centred care.
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Learning Resources
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 .
Below is a selection of some of the resources that you will be expected to engage with during the course. This is an indicative list and may be amended in light of more recent and relevant resources becoming available.
Ballantyne (2019) Bonica's Management of Pain. Fifth edition. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer.
Ritter, J.M. et al (2023b) Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. Tenth Edition. Amsterdam, Elsevier.
Korwisi, B., Barke, A., Kharko, A., Bruhin, C., Locher, C. & Koechlin, H. (2021) Not really nice: a commentary on the recent version of NICE guidelines [NG193: chronic pain (primary and secondary) in over 16s: assessment of all chronic pain and management of chronic primary pain] by the Pain Net. Pain Reports. 6 (4), e961-.
Azzam, A.A.H., McDonald, J. & Lambert, D.G. (2019) Hot topics in opioid pharmacology: mixed and biased opioids. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 122 (6), e136-e145.
Ritter, J.M. et al (2023c) Rang and Dale's Pharmacology. Tenth Edition. Amsterdam, Elsevier.
Ward, B. & Alexander-Williams, J.M. (1999) Paracetamol revisited: A review of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Acute Pain. 2 (3), 139-149
Chincholkar, M. (2020) Gabapentinoids: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and considerations for clinical practice. British Journal of Pain. 14 (2), 104-114.
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Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
During the course students will have to demonstrate the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others. Their knowledge and understanding of the topic will improve but they will also learn generic approaches/skills. As the course is distance learning, it will contribute to their IT, writing and communication skills which can be applied to both clinical and academic environments. Finally, they will be expected to be able to bring together and draw from the information provided through the course during their assignment writing. Competences such as structuring of work and accurate referencing should also improve.
GENERIC COGNITIVE SKILLS: the ability to apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues and developments, develop original and creative responses to problems and issues, critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking, deal with complex issues and make informed judgements in situations in the absence of complete or consistent data/information.
COMMUNICATION, IT AND NUMERACY SKILLS: use a wide range of routine skills and a range of advanced and specialised skills such as communication with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists, evaluation of a wide range of numerical and geographical data
AUTONOMY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND WORKING WITH OTHERS: exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional and equivalent activities, work in a peer relationship with specialist practitioners, demonstrate leadership and/or initiative and make an identifiable contribution to change and development and/or new thinking, manage complex ethical and professional issues |
Keywords | pharmacology,pain,pain management |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Barbara Phipps
Tel:
Email: barbara.phipps@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Ewelina Skala
Tel: (0131 5)37 1000
Email: eskala2@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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