Welcome to the home page information for Phase 2 of the Educational programmes in Palliative Medicine from Cardiff University.
Phase 2 continues to use distance learning, with a 2 day residential block in September 2005. The resources will be based on the website from September 2005). Options for holding the residential blocks at selected sites overseas will be explored in the future.
Some of the resource material which in the past has been part of the previously known 'Diploma' is now incorporated into Phase1 of the programmes. So students seeking the Diploma qualification will have embarked on phase 1 in the first instance as the material is common between the 2 phases and forms the basis of further exploration at phase 2 level.
For students who have completed 60 CAT credits in a palliative care course at a different institution there are now pathways for accreditation of prior learning, sop applications are most welcome.
Completion of phase 2 of the education programmes leads to the awarding of a Diploma in Palliative Medicine. At present this part of the educational programme is for doctors only, however, we are developing further material, and hope that a diploma in palliative care will soon be available for nursing and allied health professionals.
What is involved?
This second phase comprises a further 60 CAT credits to phase 1 . The learning material comprises 4 compulsory core modules of 4 weeks each. Then a student has the choice of either 2 optional modules from 4 and in the future hopefully 6 alternative modules. For students seeking the qualification in the paediatric option, the further 2 modules are BOTH paediatric palliative care.
The core compulsory modules are:
- Advanced pain
- Advanced symptoms
- Ethics
- Understanding the evidence
The 4 options modules from which 2 are chosen are:
- HIV/AIDS
- Oncology
- Neurological and renal disease
- endstage cardiac and respiratory disease
The second phase begins in September each year, following on from satisfactory completion of the phase 1 material. The exit point is a written examination which from 2006 will be held in April in Cardiff.
Course assessments
Assessment is by a combination of
- written work submissions on completion of each module
- 2 further case reflections on clinical patients,
- An ethics assignment
- a research based assignment
- an overall learning commentary
There is a further communication skills project and a written examination.
Throughout the course, feedback is available in progress.
The course has been internationally recognised since its start in 1989. Overseas students are welcomed and with the increasing network of past diploma students, it is hoped to build up local study resources in many parts of the world. The use of the website is also designed to increase the available support for students studying in different parts of the world.
