AC6775 - Managing Pain and Symptoms in Advanced Disease

What will I learn on this module?

In this module, you will learn how to manage a range of common symptoms and pain in patients with advanced disease, examining both the physiology of pain and the theories that guide our understanding of how pain is perceived. You will explore various tools for assessing pain and other symptoms, gaining insights into their benefits and limitations as you refine the holistic assessment skills essential for high-quality care. Building on this foundation, you will evaluate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, considering how each approach can be tailored to enhance patients’ quality of life—especially during the last days and hours of life. In this module you will cover topics which include common symptoms in advanced disease; the physiology of pain and pain theory; pain and symptom assessment tools; pharmacological and non-pharmacological symptom management; emergencies in palliative care; symptoms in the last days and hours of life; challenges for practice; patient perspective of living with fatigue.

By the end of the module, you will have demonstrated an in-depth understanding of symptoms and pain in advanced disease and critically assessed the role of holistic, evidence-based care. You will analyse how effective pain and symptom management contributes to a patient’s overall well-being, applying diverse management strategies within a multidisciplinary framework. In doing so, you will develop the analytical and reflective skills examining your personal contributions to care delivery and teamwork, and ensuring your practice is rooted in empathy, ethics, and professional collaboration.

How will I learn on this module?

This module applies Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to remove barriers to learning and create an inclusive, flexible experience that accommodates diverse learning styles. By offering multiple ways to engage with content, varied formats for accessing and understanding material, and ample opportunities for diverse action and expression, you can develop and showcase key employability skills. Through a blend of online resources, and live seminars, the module ensures an active, authentic learning journey that supports your success in real-world contexts (La, Dyjur, & Bair, 2018). This means learning will be via a blended delivery using a combination asynchronous (30 hours of web-based resources) and synchronous (12 hours of face-to-face online seminars) learning. A ‘flipped classroom’ approach (Bergman & Sams, 2012), promotes the front loading of theoretical content as preparatory independent study provided via online supported learning (OSL) and reading, prior to the face-to-face online seminars where your understanding of concepts and application of theory will be explored. This approach to module delivery promotes active learning as it works to accommodate your learning needs and abilities by offering flexibility and direction gained from the preparatory web-based materials which are then explored and applied during the live online seminars creating new knowledge. Offering multiple ways of learning helps you to engage along with giving you the opportunity to express your learning through action and/or expression. This encourages a positive learning environment where you are likely to feel more engaged and motivated in your learning. Authentic assessment means that any assessments throughout the module will mirror real life activities that you will be faced with in your professional practice. Authentic assessment will be an on-going key feature of the module, via tasks within the web-based materials and online simulated practice learning. These will not only support your learning of the theory related to professional practice but will also support assessment literacy through developing your skills and knowledge of the assessment process. All assessments within the programme will be operated in accordance with standard operating procedures and marked and moderated in accordance with the Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards (ARTA) ensuring the academic standards required for student awards are met.

Bergman, J., & Sams, A. (2012) Flip your classroom. Reach every student in every class every day. Washington D.C., International Science of Technology in Education.
La, H., Dyjur, P., & Bair, H. (2018). Universal design for learning in higher education. Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. Calgary University of Calgary

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported by the module lead who will guide your academic learning and assessment throughout the module. The module lead was involved in developing the e-learning materials, assessment exercises, and will provide some of your live online seminars, and feedback, supported by other staff. This module is supported by Blackboard Ultra and adheres to the university’s minimum standards. The site includes module information, assessment information, power-point presentations and e-learning packages, reading lists and relevant web links. Blackboard Collaborate will be used for the delivery of the live online seminars.

A discussion board is available to the cohort, through which students can post comments and ask questions of their peers throughout the duration of the module. You will have a live online group tutorial will help you prepare for the summative assessment. Your Programme Lead and Personal Tutor are also available to offer guidance on academic support throughout the programme.

The University Libraries offer an extensive collection of material, both hard copy and electronic, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. A variety of study-skills-related help sheets, and online videos can be found on the library Skills Plus site. You can also access a range of student support and wellbeing services via Student Central or by accessing the student support and wellbeing pages and Ask4Help via your electronic student portal.

You will also have an allocated personal/guidance teacher who will provide advice and support in relation to academic, procedural, and (where desired and appropriate) personal matters during the programme of study you have enrolled on. You will have access to 24/7 generic IT support and specific support from the programme team with any specific IT issues related to the e-learning package.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will have demonstrated an understanding of a variety of symptoms and pain that cause distress in patients with advanced disease.
2. You will have evaluated the need for holistic assessment skills and the value and limitation of assessment tools and processes.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. You will have critically evaluated the evidence base for pharmacological and non- pharmacological management strategies utilised in managing symptoms.
4. You will have considered the quality-of-life dimension in relation to effective pain and symptom management in advanced disease.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. You will have developed the characteristics of a Northumbria University student as you examine your own contribution to effective care delivery and multi-disciplinary teamwork

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment
Formative assessment will take place in the form of student led seminars, this will enable the student to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes and the synthesis of theory and practice. Formative tests and quizzes will also be embedded within e-learning materials.
Completion of the exercises will demonstrate the ability to:
• Research and critically articulate differing types of evidence; discussing with peers and teachers the relevance of the evidence.
• Work collaboratively within a learning community; presenting information to module peers in a variety of formats.
• The student will be encouraged to seek formative feedback from both module tutors and peers before the summative assessment date which presents them with the opportunity to improve their evidence of learning through reflection and constructive feedback

Summative assessment
The summative assessment for this module will enable the practitioner, irrespective of their area of practice, to examine and discuss holistic assessment and management of a chosen symptom and critically evaluate the intervention(s) and support provided for a person and their family. The essay will demonstrate the achievement of the module learning outcomes it is expected that whilst the essay is situated in practice the need for anonymity and confidentiality will be respected.

This will be achieved by digital submission of a 2500-word essay

Feedback will be given electronically and will include development advice for future academic work (MLO 1-5).

Pre-requisite(s)

To undertake this module, applicants must hold a valid current professional registration (i.e. NMC/GMC/HCPC)

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Discover how to effectively manage complex pain and symptoms in patients with advanced disease in this dynamic module. You’ll explore evidence-based strategies for holistic patient care, including essential family support considerations, while honing your assessment skills to address real-world challenges. Through clinical case studies and interactive workshops, you’ll collaborate with peers to co-construct knowledge that directly impacts your practice. You’ll also examine the role of multidisciplinary teamwork, analysing how various perspectives can improve symptom management and enhance patient well-being. With flexible learning options, you can tailor the module to your specific professional context, ensuring you’re well-prepared to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. Join us to elevate your practice as you develop the confidence, competence, and critical thinking skills needed to lead improvements in patient outcomes and pave the way for more effective, patient-centred care.