Symptom Control in Palliative Care

Code:

MCP_09

Acronym:

CSCP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree Course in Palliative Care

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCP	21	Palliative Care_09	1	-	6	60	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Knowledge: The essential aim of the Curricular Unit of Symptom Control in Palliative Care is that the student acquires the necessary knowledge in the area of the clinical management of terminal patients namely in emergencies and in the last days of life. Especially in what concerns the dichotomy between palliation and curative treatment. In the conceptual plan the aims are the acquisition and knowledge of the core concepts in these areas and in the different types of clinical palliative interventions in terminal patients. 

Skills: With this curricular unit the student must gather the necessary skills for understanding the complexity of symptom control in Palliative Care. The student must be adequately informed about the basic tools for symptom control in neoplastic injury, HIV/AIDS, cardiac diseases and other frequent situations in Palliative Care.

Learning outcomes and competences

The syllabus is in accordance with the most important theories and practice in the area of symptom control in Palliative Care. In this way coherence with the curricular unit’s intended learning outcomes is demonstrated since the syllabus is a necessary condition so that the student acquires the adequate skills for a true capacitation in this area.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1- Main problems facing the implementation of palliative care. Specificity of oncological diseases.

2- The singularity of HIV/AIDS infection: history of this disease since the eighties of the twentieth century. Evolution of the disease and current methods of treatment. Common evolution of the disease and its implications in palliative care.

3- Control of common symptoms in palliative care, other than pain: anorexia-cachexia, nausea and vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea, bowel obstruction, dysphagia, itching, asthenia, cough, dyspnoea, anxiety and depression, delirium, sleep problems, genitourinary problems.

4- Treatment of neoplastic injury and pressure ulcers. Common problems raised by injuries, namely pain and odour. Other problems such as fistulas and linfedema. The specific problem of stomas.

5- Concept of emergency in palliative care. The commonest situations.

6- The last days of life: the specificity of this phase of life. Other techniques used in symptom control.

Mandatory literature

Hanks, G., Cherny, N.I., Christakis, N.A., Fallon, A., Kaasa, S., & Portenoy, R.K. ; Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (4th edition), Oxford University Press, 2011
Addington-Hall, J., & Higginson, I. ; ). Palliative Care for Non-cancer Patients. , Oxford University Press, 2011
Gonçalves, F. ; Controlo de Sintomas no Cancro Avançado (2º edição), Porto: Coisas de Ler., 2011
Twycross, R., & Wilcock, A.; Palliative Care Formulary (3rd edition), ). Nottingham City: palliativedrugs.com, 2007
Twycross, R., Wilcock, A., & Toller; Symptom Management in Advanced Cancer (4th edition), Nottingham City: palliativedrugs.com, 2009

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methodologies have different strategies: a) Theoretical Lectures: about different themes related to the Curricular Unit; b) Seminars: Prepared and guided discussion of specific themes, defined in advance, with the participation of professors and students; c) Group Work: Pedagogical activity of analysis and problem solving, orientated by the professors and actively prepared by the students; and d) Presentation of Case-Problems by the students.

The Continuous Assessment is performed by the responsible professor for the group of students who attend the Curricular Unit. An assessment of the whole pedagogical process and of the evolution of each student's capacities is at stake: Evolution in the communication skills, evolution of the human relation, of the regular attendance in the Curricular Unit, of the interest and participation in the pedagogic process, and, finally, of the theoretical and practical knowledge. It is possible to make use of audio-visual techniques.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Exam - 100%