School for Health, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
FH50132 Inflammatory conditions |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Modular: no specific semester |
| Assessment: OT100 |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aim of this Unit is to explore theories and practice of the epidemiology, classification and differentiating features of inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic disorders.
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding After taking this unit the student should be able to * discriminate between inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint disease * formulate a working diagnosis and management plan for a patient with inflammatory or autoimmune rheumatic disease. * Demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacology and monitoring requirements of long-acting anti-rheumatic medications * detect potentially dangerous and emergency rheumatological situations * describe the epidemiology, classification and differentiating features of inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic disorders * present the broad pathophysiology of the more common inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. These learning outcomes will be taught and assessed. Skills: On completion of this unit students should be able to: * recognise inflammatory rheumatic conditions affecting children and knowledge of the principles of management * recognise uncommon but important and treatable conditions with an apparently inflammatory presentation * demonstrate the multidisciplinary approaches to physical and psychosocial needs of patients with chronic inflammation * plan and manage their learning through reflecting on and analysing their own learning needs. * integrate and critically evaluate information gathered from a wide range of resources including the unit resources, text books, journal articles, web pages and other online resources. An appreciation for a hierarchy of evidence should be displayed. * demonstrate effective communication with patients, colleagues and tutors including through asynchronous online discussions. These learning outcomes will be facilitated and some may be assessed. Content: * Epidemiology, pathology, diagnostic criteria and presentation patterns in inflammatory arthritis. Difficulties and psychological effects arising from flares of the disease. Suitable drug therapies and the patients care team approach * Characteristic features of groups of conditions, e.g. seronegative spondyloarthropathies. Autoimmune Connective tissue disease * Polymyalgia rheumatica, gout, fibromyalgia, juvenile chronic arthritis and virus-related arthritis including musculoskeletal conditions possibly associated with rubella, HIV infection, parvovirus and erythema nodosum * Less common conditions presenting like inflammatory arthritis e.g. haemochromatosis, metabolic bone disease and cancers * The place of "near patient testing" modalities such as blood testing and diagnostic ultrasound. |