Respiratory professionals from across the region have come together to create a series of online presentations to help healthcare professionals treat COPD patients in the community.
The nine bespoke short learning modules, delivered by doctors and nurses from the North East, cover a range of key topics on caring for patients living with the disease in line with NICE guidelines.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is responsible for around 30,000 deaths a year, with the UK in the top 12 countries for COPD mortality worldwide.
In the UK, there are an estimated 1.2 million people diagnosed and a further 2 million who remain undiagnosed.
The development of the e-learning programme has been led by Sue Hart, Respiratory Programme Lead at the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC), alongside other North East respiratory experts. The team identified a need for a ‘back to basics’ approach to empower COPD patients to manage their care at home.
Sue Hart, who has a background in respiratory specialist nursing, said: “A key part of encouraging self-management in patients with long-term conditions is ensuring the community nurses who are responsible for their care are supported in the ways they assess and educate patients with COPD.
“The learning modules help to instill extra confidence in the nurses, while also contributing to their professional development.”
The modules are free to healthcare professionals throughout the UK but they must register before accessing the content.
Each module lasts between 10 and 20 minutes and is followed by a knowledge test. A minimum pass mark of 80% needs to be achieved to enable participants to receive a certificate at the end of each module, which can be used as part of their professional revalidation portfolio.
Dr Mike Scott, a GP in Newcastle and a presenter of one of the e-modules, said: “I find it a real challenge to provide all the care that my patients need, much of which is increasingly complex and technical. Finding time and motivation to be well informed in all the fields that a GP needs to be aware of is not easy.
“I need to have a source of information that is accessible when I can make time, is enjoyable to use and up to date. Good e-learning fits the bill so I make it a major part of my educational portfolio.”
The COPD Management Modules were developed and funded by AstraZeneca in collaboration with the Collaborating for Respiratory Excellence (CORE) steering committee and presented by the AHSN NENC.
The subjects covered and presenters for each of the modules are:
- Regular review of COPD – Dr Paul Netts, GP and respiratory lead, Newcastle Gateshead CCG
- Medication and non-pharmacological management of COPD – Dr Caroline Sprake, GP Partner and respiratory clinical lead for North Tyneside CCG
- Making a correct diagnosis – Jenny Sharp, community matron, British Lung Foundation professional, Queens nurse
- Oxygen therapy – Jenny Sharp, community matron, British Lung Foundation professional, Queens nurse
- Living with COPD – Karen Heslop Marshall, respiratory nurse consultant, NIHR clinical academic fellow
- Inhaler devices in COPD – Sue Hart, respiratory programme lead for the AHSN NENC
- Inhalation therapy – Deborah Dews, nurse practitioner and Gateshead CCG board member
- Acute exacerbations – Dr Mike Scott, GP in Newcastle
- Co-morbidities in COPD – Anthony De Soyza, academic clinical senior lecturer and honorary consultant respiratory medicine
To register to access the learning modules from November 18th, visit: http://ahsn-nenc.org.uk/project_type/respiratory/copdcpd/
