THE HEPATITIS C VIRUS: TACKLING THE PROBLEM ( 30 CREDITS AT LEVEL 2 )
COURSE INFORMATION
The content of this education unit provides fundamental knowledge in the area of hepatitis C care.
Participants will be qualified nurses and midwives in secondary or primary care who are currently
seeing or in contact with hepatitis C patients.
The unit is suitable for nurses and midwives working in a wide range of clinical settings.
Stage 1
is a distance learning CDROM. Its content includes key aspects of liver anatomy and physiology;
the main characteristics of the hepatitis C virus; risk factors for hepatitis C exposure;
presentation and possible disease progression; testing for hepatitis C; management, prevention and risk reduction.
Also included are two patient case studies. Stage 1 requires about 15 hours of study.
Stage 2
is a locally delivered workshop which involves watching and discussing a number of video clips of patients.
Content includes attitudes to people with hepatitis C infection; further development of knowledge of ways in
which people may present with hepatitis C infection, testing and of subsequent stages in management.
The workshop lasts about three hours and there is a follow-up activity lasting about two hours.
Stage 3
includes consideration of the values and principles underpinning Government strategies related to hepatitis C;
contributing to the prevention of hepatitis C locally; possible psychosocial impact of hepatitis C on patients/service users; local policies on testing; encouraging adherence to treatment.
Stage 3 requires about 140 hours of study involving on-line learning activities and a formal assessment at the end.
The assessment comprises a practice-based written assignment, 3000 words in length.
Participants can choose to work through Stage 1 (distance learning) and Stage 2 (workshop and follow-up activities)
only, and use the study hours for the purposes of PREP/CPD. They can also opt to complete all three stages, in which
case the study hours they accumulate will far exceed the minimum PREP(CPD) requirement of 35 hours in three years.
Successful completion of the whole education unit means you will be awarded 30 credits at level 2. Credits can be
submitted to the University of Greenwich for advanced standing towards one of its awards, or to any other higher education institution recognises such credits.
The credits gained for successful completion of this Masterclass plus unit are higher education credits that can be used towards a diploma or degree.
COURSE TUTOR
Elizabeth Spence BA, RN (Adult)
Elizabeth Spence is Gastroenterology Specialist Nurse, North Glasgow NHS Trust.
She co-ordinates the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of patients attending the Hepatitis Clinic and is
involved in nurse-led clinics for new patients and those receiving antiviral treatments.
She has had experience of a range of research projects related to hepatitis C and is a co-author of many journal
articles and abstracts.
Elizabeth is a member of the organising committee of the Scottish National Hepatitis C Resource Centre and of the panel of the Consensus Conference on Hepatitis C to be held in Edinburgh in April 2004. She has been Chair of the Scottish Viral Hepatitis Nurses Group since 1998. In her educational role she delivers tutorials, seminar presentations and training sessions for qualified health care professionals.
Supported with an unrestricted educational grant from
SCHERING-PLOUGH LTD
