Masters Degrees (Pain)

This higher degree is aimed at clinical professionals from all backgrounds involved in the delivery of acute and chronic pain services in primary or secondary care. Combining cutting-edge research with an international reputation for clinical excellence, the UCL Pain Management MSc is ideal for anyone wanting to improve the care of people living with pain while accelerating their own career.

Degree information

Students will learn:
-Health economics and social impact of pain
-Clinical governance of pain services
-Pathophysiology of pain
-Pharmacology of pain and therapeutics
-Managing pain in cancer patients including post-chemotherapy pain
-Management of headache and abdominopelvic/urogenital pain
-Managing pain in children and adolescents
-Strategies for the self-management of pain
-Neuromodulation for chronic pain
-Pain management with mental health, substance misuse and multiple morbidity
-Community pain management strategies

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits, eight core modules) is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits, four core modules) is offered. There are no optional modules for this programme.

Core modules
-Introduction to Pain: Economics, Evidence Delivery (15 credits)
-Acute Pain (15 credits)
-Chronic Pain (15 credits)
-Pain in Cancer Patients (15 credits)
-Headache, Paediatric Pain & Abdominopelvic Pain (15 credits)
-Strategies for the Self-Management of Pain (15 credits)
-Neuromodulation (15 credits)
-Pain in the Community (15 credits)

Dissertation/report
Successful completion of the MSc requires a 5,000- to 8,000-word dissertation on a topic that is relevant to the candidate's own clinical practice and has been covered, at least superficially, at some point in the programme. The options for the dissertation will be discussed with each student but can include, where possible, joining clinical research at the UCLH Pain Management Centre, study in-depth of topics, preparing for higher (doctoral) research, etc. Students will have two supervisors and a mentor.

Teaching and learning
This programme is delivered via an online learning environment with additional workshops and discussions to support students on their journey towards making a real difference for people living with pain.

Careers

This programme is the ideal solution for:
-Nurses and allied health professionals wishing to pursue senior (Band 7+) roles in the NHS.
-General practitioners involved in the delivery of chronic pain services.
-Junior doctors wishing to develop and demonstrate clinical interest in pain management and/or the pain component of training in anaethesia.
-International doctors wishing to develop their expertise in pain management.
-Osteopaths and chiropractors with an interest in pain management.

Employability
Combining academic excellence with UCL's reputation as London's global university and our strong links to industry, the prospects for graduates of this programme are excellent. Whether you wish to continue with patient care in the NHS or private sector, pursue doctoral research, or work in industry and innovation, this programme will equips students not only with the knowledge and skills but also the networking links and opportunities to take their career to the next level.

Why study this degree at UCL?

This exciting programme enables students to improve the lives of people living with pain. Beginning with the socio-economic impact and moving from acute to chronic pain states before arriving at more complex pain conditions and interventions, this programme develops the knowledge and core skills required of an advanced pain practitioner. With innovative modules on managing pain in the community and the world's first module on neuromodulation, students will be prepared to shape the future of pain management - anywhere in the world.

The programme is delivered flexibly at the student's own pace primarily via an online learning environment. Recognising that the subject matter is often academically and emotionally demanding, optional workshops with programme tutors are available on campus and via video conferencing. In addition, online small-group tutorials supplement the online learning content. This flexible design allows students from all over the country, and world, to share their experiences and learning styles to enrich each other academically. This is the only UK-based pain management degree offering a blended mode of delivery.

UCL and UCL Hospitals (UCLH) Pain Management Centre has an international reputation for both cutting-edge research and innovative clinical services. Students on this programme will benefit from teaching from global experts at an institution that consistently delivers world-class research output. Graduates can expect to be academically confident and ideally placed to pursue doctoral (PhD) level study in the field should they wish.

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Postgraduate Diploma in Pain Management

Our online 1 year Postgraduate Diploma in Pain Management covers the wide range of the conditions pertinent to pain management and meets the educational needs of both primary and secondary healthcare professionals. The course is worth 120 credits and comprises 6 modules of 20 credits each.

Our Diploma in Pain Management has been developed for Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Practice Nurses and those with related undergraduate degrees (Clinical Nurse specialists, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Dentists, Psychology, Occupational Therapists, Podiatrists, Rehabilitation specialists) or equivalent professional qualifications and background experience. Having a specialist knowledge in Pain Management is an increasingly important asset and extra responsibility of medical personnel.

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

- demonstrate a systematic understanding of the care of patients in Pain Management.

- critically evaluate current research in inter-disciplinary & multi-disciplinary Pain Management

- demonstrate a critical understanding of self-care promotion for acute and chronic pain

- deliver management strategies for the investigation and treatment of patients with pain conditions.

Course Structure

The online course lasts one calendar year and is a part-time distance learning course. It consists of 6 modules per year, each of 6 weeks duration.

Module 1 - Mechanisms of pain

Module 2 - Types of pain

Module 3 - Principles of pain assessment and management

Module 4 - Multi-disciplinary approaches to pain management

Module 5 - Pain in specified populations

Module 6 - Inter disciplinary Service Provision

Assessment

Online Diploma in Health Economics

The course puts assessment at the heart of learning by using clinical scenarios to facilitate problem-solving, critical analysis and evidence-based care. The scenarios act as both the focus for learning and assessment thus embedding assessment within the learning process.

Each of the 6 modules has the same assessment format. Due to the online nature of the course, students are expected to login and participate in the course regularly throughout the module (ideally on a daily basis).

Students are split into groups of 10-15 students and are assigned a dedicated expert tutor who:

Facilitates clinical case discussions with the group.

Monitors, assesses and marks each student throughout the module.

Students use the skills gained during the lectures to engage with the different activities (see below).

Clinical case scenarios with case based discussion - 40%

Individual learning portfolio - 10%

Group/individual activity - 20%

Case based examination - 30%

MSc Pain Management course

The MSc Pain Management course aims to create professionals who can independently access information and use the information to critically assess, evaluate and disseminate the evidence base related to Pain Management. The course will enable more health care professionals to have the required knowledge to treat patients. It will develop problem-solving and clinical skills together with preparing students to take a leadership role in Pain Management.

Entry to the 1 year Msc in Pain Management will require the successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Pain Management (120 credits) either from the University of South Wales or from another UK University.

Our Pain Management Masters of Science course has been developed for health professionals who are interested in a leadership role within Pain Management including Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Practice Nurses and those with equivalent professional qualifications and background experience.

The MSc Pain Management course is the only one of its title that is accessible online, and is not offered by any other institution. On completion of the course, you will be able to:

Extend the knowledge of research methods and application to practice at MSc level.

Demonstrate an ability to use knowledge to adapt professional practice to meet the changing demands of health care systems.

Course Structure

The online course lasts one calendar year and is a part-time distance learning course. It consists of 6 modules per year, each of 6 weeks duration.

Module 1 - Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal: Pain Management

Module 2 - Professional Project: Pain Management or Independent Prescribing Module

Teaching Methods

Module 1 - Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal

MSc teaching methods for this module are similar to the PG Diploma course modules however it is run over 12 weeks.

Module 2 - Professional Project

To produce the professional project, students continue to use the online course however much of the work is self-directed.

Students are expected in the first 8 weeks to interact with their tutor on a weekly basis. Students select a specific project and submit a project summary/proposal (approximately 1500 words).

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The MSc Degree in Pain Management is an inter-professional, e-learning programme intended for health care professionals who want to specialise in the field of pain management. It is also aimed at educationalists to provide the appropriate knowledge and expertise on pain to teach others from various disciplines.

Pain is a multidimensional phenomenon and as such needs to be managed through multidisciplinary initiatives. These initiatives must be based on specialist knowledge, rigorous research and an advanced understanding of the physiological and behavioural concepts involved.

This two-year course begins by introducing you to the multifaceted nature of caring for patients who have pain. The modules are designed to provide you with the ability to understand the biopsychosocial aspects of pain and to evaluate the various approaches to assessing and managing patients in pain. Professional issues, including clinical governance and inter-professional practice, will be covered. The course is suitable for the needs of primary, secondary and tertiary care professionals.

E-learning assessment strategies enable students to focus on their areas of interest and are structured to allow students to evaluate the topic in relation to their practice and professional base.

Approximately 40 places are offered each year and the majority of students are self-funded, though some obtain awards from charities and trusts.  The course takes two years to complete inclusive of the dissertation component (nine months for the postgraduate certificate stage; nine months for the postgraduate diploma stage and a further six months for the dissertation stage).

There are no residential components in this course as it is purely e-learning - so there is no requirement to travel to Cardiff for course purposes. 

Distinctive features

• Inter-professional plus e-learning.

• The first postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Pain Management course to be developed.

• Emphasis on a biopsychosocial approach.

• Suitable for primary, secondary and tertiary care.

• A new primary care pathway is available within the MSc Pain Management to reflect the move of chronic pain services closer to people’s homes and this is facilitated and managed by an inter-professional, expert primary care faculty including leading GPs with a special interest in pain within the UK.

Structure

This part-time MSc consists of three stages – stage T1 (3 x 20 credit modules), stage T2 (3 x 20 credit modules) and stage R (60 credit research dissertation).

The total normal duration to complete the full MSc programme is two years (stages T1, T2 and R), from the date of initial registration on the MSc.

You may leave at the end of stage T1 with a postgraduate certificate, if you have obtained a minimum of 60 credits and have completed any required modules.

You may leave at the end of stage T2 with a postgraduate diploma, if you have obtained a minimum of 120 credits and have completed any required modules.

The dissertation is normally not more than 20,000 words. The subject of each student’s dissertation shall be approved by the Chair of the Board of Studies concerned or his/her nominee.

Core modules:

Fundamentals of Pain Management
Biopsychosocial Principles in Pain Management
Research, Statistics & Evidence Based Medicine
Patient Case Studies - Options
Clinical Management - Options
Professional Issues - Options
Dissertation: Pain Management

Assessment

The assessments have been chosen to ensure that the learning outcomes are appropriately tested and provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate they have met them. Specific module assessment methods for each module shall be determined by the relevant Board of Studies and are detailed within the relevant Module Description.

There are a variety of formative and summative assessment methods used, such as:

Assignments
Wiki development
Blogs
Multiple choice questions
Group work
Development of guidelines / PowerPoint presentations.

The MSc dissertation stage will be assessed based on the final dissertation. Expectations for the format, submission and marking of the dissertation will follow the current Senate Assessment Regulations, supplemented where appropriate with additional requirements of the Programme/School/College and any specific requirements arising from the nature of the project undertaken.

Career Prospects

Many students have reported that attainment or current participation on the MSc led directly to promotion.  Many students were also stimulated to pursue academic careers via further study up to PhD.

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Programme description

The University of Edinburgh is recognised globally for its research, development and innovation, and has been providing students with a world-class education for more than 425 years. The suite of pain management programmes offered by the Department of Anaesthesia, Critical care and Pain Medicine, continues this tradition by integrating current clinical research with high-level academic and professional input.

As a multidimensional phenomenon, it is essential that pain is managed through planned multidisciplinary initiatives and inputs that aim to ease patient suffering and improve quality of life. Through a solid, theoretical understanding of the biological, psychological and social concepts that drive, develop and maintain pain, students will explore the multifaceted nature of pain and its effects. Students will gain an advanced understanding of the specialist area of pain management and will develop the core skills and knowledge required of an advanced pain practitioner.

Each course of the programme is divided into a set of themed sections in which material is presented in a blend of short online lectures, practical case studies, directed readings, podcasts and webinars. This is supplemented by discussion boards that provide directed assessment tasks while input from expert guest lecturers and tutors offer students opportunity for collaborative critical discourse and debate of current issues.

This part-time, fully online programme attracts an international and multi-professional student cohort and offers a unique opportunity to have direct contact with others working in pain management across the world. Within this context, students will gain the knowledge, understanding and evaluative skills to provide advanced clinical care so as to improve outcomes for people living in pain.

This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Health Academy.

Online learning

By studying at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, students will join a rich tradition of education – one of the oldest institutions in the UK - but also one of the most progressive and dynamic.

The University of Edinburgh has a growing portfolio of established and highly regarded online distance learning postgraduate programmes, with thousands of students currently taking advantage of this mode of education. As a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh, you will become part of a supportive online community, able to take advantage of the University’s strong academic tradition, while studying together students and tutors from across the world.

Programme structure

The University of Edinburgh offers a number of outcome awards from its suite of pain management programmes. For those wishing to complete a short option, there are continuing professional development (CME/CPD) courses and for others, who may wish to pursue a longer programme option, there are University awards of Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Master of Science (MSc) – all delivered online using methods that are fully supported by the University’s award-winning online learning environments.

The key differences between the University awards are the number of credits needed to achieve each award:

• Postgraduate Certificate: this is 60 successfully completed credits of study
• Postgraduate Diploma: this is 120 successfully completed credits of study
• Master of Science: this is 180 successfully completed credits of study

Career opportunities

There are many and diverse prospects for employment depending on where graduates want to work, the area of the world where they are currently based, and, previous experience and interest.

By combining academic excellence with the University of Edinburgh’s world-class reputation, graduates from our suite of programme are well placed to continue and advance their clinical careers within the NHS or other health services, pursue advanced academic study, or work in industry. Equally, graduates can expect to be academically confident and may choose to pursue academic careers in related fields.

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The PgCert/PgDip/MSc in Pain Management (Primary and Community Care) is an inter-professional, e-learning course intended for any health care professional with an interest in and/or a wish to specialise in the field of pain management, within the area of Primary and Community Care.

The aim is to help students to develop their knowledge to an advanced level in their area of expertise and or interest within the field of Pain Assessment and Management in the Primary and Community Care setting. This is however, undertaken within a broader context, which allows the student to understand their level of expertise and knowledge base and how it fits into inter-professional practice and Pain Management as a whole.

Every applicant has to apply for the Postgraduate Certificate year first. Once they have completed and passed this, they can either choose to exit with the Postgraduate Certificate award or they can apply to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma. The same applies for the Postgraduate Diploma to MSc.

Each course runs over nine months. The Postgraduate Certificate course starts with a two-week introductory period to enable you to familiarise yourself with the course and e-learning. The course team offer support Monday – Friday (9-5pm) by email, telephone and online discussion boards/forums. 

Pain is a multidimensional phenomenon and as such needs to be managed through multidisciplinary initiatives. These initiatives must be based on specialist knowledge, rigorous research and an advanced understanding of the physiological and behavioural concepts involved.

Distinctive features:

• Inter-professional plus e-learning
• Emphasis on a biopsychosocial approach.

Structure

• PgCert:

All students must register initially for the Postgraduate Certificate (Pg Cert) in Pain Management (Primary and Community Care).

There is one stage to the Postgraduate Certificate course: T1. This stage lasts for nine months and consists of three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7.

After successfully completing this stage, you may leave with a Postgraduate Certificate, or apply to progress to the Postgraduate Diploma stage.

Core modules:

Foundation in Primary Care Pain Management
Research, Statistics and Evidence Based Practice: Assessment & Screening
Biopsychosocial Pain Management: Fundamentals of Care in a Primary/Community Setting

• PgDip:

There are two stages to the Postgraduate Diploma course: T1, the first taught stage, and T2, second taught stage. 

Stage T1 - This stage lasts for nine months and consists of three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7.  This is the Postgraduate Certificate in Pain Management (Primary and Community Care) required in order to progress to stage T2. 

Stage T2 - This stage lasts for nine months and consists of a further three 20-credit modules totalling 60 credits, at Level 7, to give a combined total for stages T1 & T2 of 120 credits.

At the end of stage T2, students who have obtained a minimum of 120 credits at Level 7 will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma, or they may apply to enter the MSc course. 

Core modules:

Same core modules as PgCert PLUS

Primary and Community Care Management
Patient Case Studies: Approaches to Managing Complex Cases in Primary and Community Care
Professional Issues: Application to Primary and Community Care

• MSc:

The MSc consists of one further stage – stage R (research dissertation).

Stage R continues for a further nine months after the Postgraduate Diploma, making a total of 27 months for the full MSc (stages T1, T2 from Postgraduate Diploma and MSc stage R), and includes a 20,000-word dissertation of 60 credits at Level 7, to achieve a total of at least 180 credits at Level 7 to complete the MSc programme.

The dissertation is worth 60 credits and, in combination with the postgraduate diploma taught stage(s), is weighted 50% for the purpose of calculating the final mark.

Teaching

A wide range of teaching and learning styles are used throughout the course, which are delivered via e-learning format through Cardiff University’s virtual learning environment (VLE) Learning Central. The course consists of a number of compulsory modules and sub-topics where the student has a choice. A variety of media is used to deliver the content:

Written modules
Voice over PowerPoint presentations
Talking heads
Presentations
Interactive modules.

Assessment

The assessment methods are written assignments, online assessments (individual and group work). There are no residential components or written examinations to attend so there would be no need for you to travel to Cardiff University for course purposes

The MSc dissertation stage will be wholly assessed based on the final dissertation. Expectations for the format, submission and marking of the dissertation will follow the current Senate Assessment Regulations, supplemented where appropriate with additional requirements of the Programme/School/College and any specific requirements arising from the nature of the project undertaken.

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Overview

This course provides students with a sound understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of pain, the psychosocial aspects of pain, and the assessment of pain. It also provides a thorough understanding of research methodology.

The School of Health & Rehabilitation is based on Keele campus and has a well-established undergraduate physiotherapy programme. It has strong connections both with local clinical units and with other Schools within the University such as the Schools of Nursing & Midwifery, Medicine, and Pharmacy.

Allied health professionals and members of other related disciplines may require both academic accreditation and flexibility when seeking continuing professional development (CPD) and our postgraduate courses endeavour to fulfil these needs within the field of pain management. Although based in the School of Health and Rehabilitation, this course draws on modules from across the Faculty of Health and the wider University encouraging interprofessional education. It is available part-time, or modules can be taken as independent stand-alone programmes of study.

The part-time MSc programme can be completed in two years, but students may take up to five years if they wish (modular route). The structure of the course therefore allows flexible learning in accordance with individual student interests and needs.

See the website https://www.keele.ac.uk/pgtcourses/painscienceandmanagement/

Course Aims

The aim of this flexible modular course is to broaden the student’s knowledge and understanding in Pain Science and Management, plus encourage personal development. The IASP core curriculum for professional education in pain is reflected in this programme. It is also about fostering greater insight into how different disciplines, through a programme of shared learning and teaching, can contribute to this aim. This course facilitates analysis, discussion and critical appraisal of scientific and clinical knowledge.

Course Content

The MSc programme comprises taught modules to the value of 120 M Level credits and a dissertation of 60 M Level credits, giving a total of 180 credits. Students may choose to finish their studies after completing 60 taught credits (Postgraduate Certificate) or 120 taught credits (Postgraduate Diploma), or they may study any module on a stand-alone basis and obtain the relevant credits.

The part-time MSc programme can be completed in two years, but students may take up to five years if they wish. The structure of the course therefore allows flexible learning in accordance with individual student interests.

The core modules meet the needs of individuals to review and evaluate the scientific background of their own specialism and to integrate this into their clinical practice. The option modules allow students to devise a programme to suit their own specific requirements in terms of professional and personal development. The Research module and Evidence-Based Practice module together with the dissertation develop the student’s research capabilities and critical evaluation skills.

Teaching & Assessment

A broad spectrum of teaching and learning methods are adopted including lectures, seminars, workshops and online distance education. All sessions are led by a variety of experienced authorities in their field. Therefore, the student receives a wide knowledge base from academics and practising experts.

The programme is assessed by a variety of techniques chosen to reflect the aims and objectives and teaching methods of individual modules, for example: critical evaluation, paper review, seminar presentations, examination, the use of the Virtual Learning Environment, and dissertation. The pass mark for all modules is 50%.

Additional Costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines we do not anticipate any additional costs for this post graduate programme.

Find information on Scholarships here - http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding/bursariesscholarships/

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The aim of these programs is to provide advanced education in pain management for graduates in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, psychology and other disciplines involved in pain management.

Following the core curriculum of the International Association for the Study of Pain, subjects have been designed to update and expand knowledge in the basic sciences, concepts and procedures of pain assessment and management in a variety of human settings. The master's degrees are articulated with the graduate diploma and graduate certificate. That is to say, coursework undertaken for the diplomas or certificate may be counted towards credits required for the master's degrees. Conversely, someone enrolling in the master's program can be awarded a graduate certificate or graduate diploma if circumstances prevent them from completing the master's. Students who have attained an average mark of 70 in all the coursework components of the Master of Medicine/Masters of Science in Medicine may request to undertake the dissertation unit of study in which students undertake a small supervised individual project in applied pain management and write it up in a dissertation. Those who successfully complete the formal dissertation component graduate with Honours. Master's students who choose not to undertake the honours component but complete their coursework units of study with a minimum average mark of 75 per cent will be awarded pass with merit.

Target group:
Graduates in dentistry, psychology, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other relevant disciplines interested in a program that provides advanced education in pain management.

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The muscles in general and the trigger points in particular are the main sources of pain and joint dysfunction. Virtually anyone can suffer at some stage in their life from persistentmyofascial pain as a result of an external trigger (traumatism, stress, cold, etc.).

Myofascial pain comprises a series of sensory, motor and localised signs and symptoms caused by the myofascial trigger points which often manifest themselves in areas other than the trigger point responsible for the dysfunction.

A considerable part of chronic pain caused by the myofascial trigger points can be prevented through early diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. As health professionals who work on a daily basis with interpreting and treating pain, physiotherapists must learn to identify and train in the therapeutic discipline of myofascial pain.

This postgraduate degree gives physiotherapists the necessary training to apply dry needling and enables them to register as physiotherapists trained in this practice, something which is necessary to obtain Civil Liability insurance coverage, as stipulated by the school resolution 007/2009 of 6 October by the College of Physiotherapists of Catalonia (Col·legi de Fisioterapeutes de Catalunya).

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This Postgraduate Certificate programme develops students’ theoretical and practical competencies in the fast-developing world of sedation and pain management, and is studied part-time over one year. It is compliant with UK sedation guidelines.

Degree information

Alongside theoretical training, the programme provides clinical attachments with a programme mentor at accredited sedation clinics in or near London. Students receive training in pre-sedation assessment and how to administer sedation to patients using standard sedation techniques, and observe the criteria set for recovery and discharge of patients after sedation. Students also receive simulation training in the management of medical emergencies during sedation.

Students undertake modules to the value of 60 credits. The programme consists of four core modules worth 15 credits each. There are no optional modules for this programme.

Core modules
-Conscious Sedation Pre-Clinical I
-Conscious Sedation Pre-Clinical II
-Conscious Sedation Clinical I
-Conscious Sedation Clinical II

Dissertation/report
Each student writes a 3,000-word referenced essay on a sedation-related topic as part of formal assessment..The topic must be approved by the Programme Director

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, clinical skills seminars, problem-based learning and directly supervised clinical sessions sedating patients. Students also receive simulation training in the management of medical emergencies.

Careers

The programme prepares graduates to practise as:
-Operator sedationists: as dentists they can conduct dental procedures and administer drugs for relief of pain and anxiety, conscious sedation.
-Dedicated sedation practitioners: delivering the relief of pain and anxiety through conscious sedation while conducting dental procedures (this form of sedation practice is becoming very popular and the demand is increasing).
-Sedation trainers.
-Various graduates are now offering conscious sedation for the first time in their practices, and one graduate is now running airway certification courses.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Dentist, Walton Park Dental Practice/ Diploma in Implant Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons
-Dental Officer, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
-Speciality Doctor, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
-Paediatric Dentist, Eastman Dental Hospital (NHS)

Employability
There is a huge demand for sedation practitioners and this is lilkely to grow in future, not only as private practitioners but also sedation trainers.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The programme is available to both doctors and dentists, which is unique in the UK. The programme invites guest speakers from other institutions and the Programme Director himself is a visiting professor from UWC, Cape Town, providing connections with the international sedation community. You can find out more about the programme on the institute's Dental Sedation and Pain Management PG Cert page: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/eastman/education/programmes/dental-sedation-and-pain-management-postgraduate-certificate

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The PgDip and MSc Evidence-based Medicine (Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain) programmes provide a modular postgraduate education to meet your needs. The programmes offer specialty training within this area and will enhance your career progression towards a consultant post.

Course details

The programmes are flexible and modular, covering a range of subject matters relevant to anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain. Credits from the component modules can be combined to provide a postgraduate certificate, diploma or master’s-level qualification. You study the central aspects of evidence-based medicine and research, and how to apply these to your anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain practice to enhance the quality of your individual clinical practice and broader service delivery. You share a number of modules with other master’s-level programmes giving you many opportunities to mix with other students and share academic and professional experiences. The emphasis is on integrating theory and clinical practice in a multi-professional working and learning environment.

You develop an ability to understand how evidence is generated, retrieved, evaluated and importantly, employed in practice. The programmes enhance inter-professional learning and direct the focus of learning toward evidence based clinical decision making and quality improvement to enhance service delivery. This is in line with the Government’s policy visions to develop evidence based, quality improvement driven professional practice.The programmes offer a structured and logical progression to learning, with a firm link to your anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain practice. As the majority of students are employed in specialty training posts we use a flexible approach to programme delivery.

What you study

Core modules
-Designing Research Projects
-Evidence-based Practice
-Practical Statistics
-Quality Improvement in Evidence-based Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain
-Research Project Management

MSc only
-Dissertation

Modules offered may vary.

Teaching

Main campus for attending students, at home for distance learners.

The learning and teaching strategy is as flexible as possible. You can choose to study by attending classes, by distance learning or flexible learning (a combination of attendance and distance learning).

For attending students, learning and teaching methods include key lectures, seminars involving group discussions and structured learning activities, practical computer lab classes and tutorial support.

For distance learners our virtual learning environment provides you with interactive structured learning materials such as written learning materials, narrated PowerPoint presentations, and structured learning materials and activities. Alongside this you can access a range of forums – discussion boards, wikis and blogs to support your discussion with module tutors and other students. Tutorial support is provided by email, phone or Skype.

If you are a flexible learner you can use these two approaches flexibly throughout each module depending on your personal needs and work commitments. Our learning and teaching strategy, and opportunities for feedback for flexible learners includes aspects of the attendance and distance learning strategies.

We use a variety of assessment strategies. Formative assessment supports your learning in some modules. Each module is summatively assessed through a written report, seen exam, data analysis project, research proposal, quality improvement proposal, critical commentary and – for the MSc only – a dissertation.

Employability

These programmes offer a structured and logical progression to learning with a firm link to your specialist area of practice. Most graduates are employed in specialty training posts and these programmes can support your career progression to consultant level.

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Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care (APMIC) is a unique medical specialty. It involves hands on manipulation of physiology and real-time pharmacological intervention to effectively and safely manage patients in all parts of the hospital. Practice varies from treating life-threatening illnesses within the ICU, to relieving pain in the ward and clinic, to safely anaesthetising patients in the operating theatre. The application of basic science can be seen to directly affect clinical care and thus provides an excellent environment for translational research. As healthcare becomes more centralised in larger Academic Health Science Networks, it is becoming apparent that positions in prestigious institutions require more than standard clinical training programmes. Evidence of additional training, particularly in academic work, is required to demonstrate an individual’s competitive edge. However, not everyone will want or have the opportunity to complete a full PhD training programme. This Masters in Research course will provide training and qualification in all the fundamental principles of Anaesthetic, Pain Medicine and Intensive care research. Based in the Department of Surgery and Cancer in the Faculty of Medicine, the stream provides an opportunity to learn, in a supportive and stimulating environment, from leaders in the field who are actively engaged in research.

The emphasis of the course will be to provide a thorough training in Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care (APMIC) research from fundamental principles of molecular mechanisms toward clinical basic principles. Through the two research-based projects students will be exposed to the latest developments in the field and will gain first-hand experience in applying the methods they are taught to research questions in Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care.

Individuals who complete the course will have developed the ability to:

-Understand fundamental principles of molecular mechanisms of APMIC
-Describe advanced physiology and pharmacology of APMIC
-Master principles of translation of research and research techniques
-Gain detailed knowledge and understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles, techniques and theories relevant to the students' chosen research project
-Develop management and communication skills, including problem definition, project design, decision processes, written and oral reports and scientific publications
-This will be achieved through completing two research projects, supplemented with a course of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and technical workshops. Please note that Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates for part-completion are not available for this course.

The stream will be based in the section of APMIC, Department of Surgery and Cancer on the Chelsea and Westminster Campus of Imperial College London.

Each student chooses two projects over the course of the year from the wide range available. Students are guided in this choice by the course organiser and their personal tutor and are advised to take contrasting projects to ensure a balanced training.

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The Master of Medicine (Pain Management) provides advanced education in pain management for graduates in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, psychology and other disciplines involved in pain management. This course is offered in the form of online distance education mode and may be completed full-time or part-time. The course is recognised for Continuing Medical Education/Maintenance of Professional Standards Program points by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

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Gain a thorough theoretical grounding in the management of common presentations of back pain, through analysis and interpretation of evidence of effectiveness of diagnosis and initial treatment

•Receive on-going access to other professionals during the period of the module

•Attend lectures, seminars, group work and facilitated discussion held at Warwick Medical School

•Undertake home study and self-directed reading (including some pre-course work)

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Remarkable recent developments in the fields of surgery, anaesthesiology and resuscitation have made the surgical units of hospitals complex and dynamic work environments that require profound levels of expertise. Nursing professionals interested in working in this specialty need to have strong and focused training in order to develop the professional skills for confronting the daily tasks that arise in this area of healthcare.

Factors related to research and development, as well as general population characteristics and improvements in social well-being call for a new nursing approach that heightens the role of strategy within surgical units.

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Gain a thorough theoretical grounding in the management of common presentations of musculoskeletal disease of the lower limb, through analysis and interpretation of evidence of effectiveness of diagnosis and initial treatment

•Attend lectures, seminars, group work, and facilitated discussion held at Warwick Medical School
•Undertake home study and self-directed reading (including some pre-course work)

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