Module Descriptors

The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2011) reports that long term conditions cause more deaths than all other causes combined. According to the Kings Fund (2012), the UK economy will potentially lose £16 billion over the next 10 years through premature deaths related to Long Term Conditions. Many of these diseases are largely preventable through alteration of four main behavioural risks; use of tobacco, lack of physical activity, over use of alcohol and an unhealthy diet (WHO 2011).

This module is aimed at all health or social care professionals working with people with long term conditions to enable them to provide high quality provision and support that meets the needs of both individuals and family groups. The module will provide prospective graduates with an in-depth knowledge of long term conditions and develop a cultural awareness of the impact of the effects of these on a range of people. The benefits of effective communication within a team approach will be discussed to enable students to acquire a sound grasp of how new understandings will impact on their practices thus allowing them to apply evidence-based solutions to the support of people with long term conditions.

• The module acknowledges the students professional background and will provide a holistic knowledge base for students which will enable them to develop their role in participating in the management of individuals with long term conditions within their societal groups. It will also provide opportunities for a wide variety of professions to develop knowledge and critical insight on the impact of long-term conditions in relation to the physical and psychosocial health of individuals and their carers. Students will develop an understanding of the evidence base for approaches to long term conditions management and will be encouraged to challenge professional assumptions regarding the needs of individuals and families affected by long-term conditions. Students will be given an insight into the implications of living with a long term condition and explore the strategies involved in addressing the health and social care requirements of this patient group. The nature of concordance vs. compliance will also be explored.


• The module will promote person and relationship-centred approaches to care, evaluate the trajectories of chronic illness/disease in relation to those areas of illness/disease currently highlighted in international, national and local policy in health and social care. The role played by models and frameworks for long term condition management will be explored with an emphasis on social care assessment, effective communication, empowering self-care, management and prevention for individuals with long term conditions. The response of services to acute episode management, communication and therapeutic interventions; medicines management, health improvement strategies, self-care and self-management, inter-agency working, and end of life care will all be considered and explored, equipping the student with the skills to actively engage in this process


• Throughout the module students will be building on their existing skills and acquiring and developing knowledge and skills demonstrating graduate attributes that include being able to identify, define and analyse problems and identify or create processes to solve them, being open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking, being prepared to ask crucial questions and use rational, being able to manage risk while initiating and managing change and to use communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others.


• This module is suitable for students from anywhere in the world as it allows the application of theory to practice regardless of geography or care setting. This enhances the global citizenship of students by providing a critical understanding of long term conditions in health and social care settings across the world. As this module is theoretical in content students do not need to be currently working with people experiencing loss and thus a workplace supervisor is not required.


• This module contributes to students developing the following graduate attributes critical thinking, analytical, inquiring, knowledgeable, digitally literate, problem-solving, autonomous, collaborative and effective communication.

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. Critically appraise the effect of living with a long term condition on the person, their family and carers

L2. Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding issues in health and social care provision in relation to long term condition management

L3. Examine the social determinants and the theories of health behaviours that influence people managing their long term condition/s

L4. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of emerging self management techniques that can be utilised to enable self management of long term conditions

The demonstration of a broad and integrated knowledge of the principal theories and drivers for change in the progression of a long term condition

The interpretation and application of good practice guidelines and techniques related to a long term condition

Demonstrates the ability to critical analyse and evaluate ideas, theories, issues and needs in relation to managing a long term condition

The demonstration of a range of communication skills with people in complex situations
Communicating with multi-agency teams using multi-agency assessment tools

The demonstration of independence and responsibility working in partnership with others

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

Where a module has Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body requirements these will be listed here:
Attendance at synchronous sessions (lectures, workshops, and tutorials), completion of asynchronous activities, and submission of assessments to meet the learning outcomes of the module.

2.11

1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
   This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.