HEPATITIS B INFECTION: MEETING THE CHALLENGE (15 CREDITS AT LEVEL 3)
COURSE INFORMATION
This education unit aims to enable participants to develop their understanding of
hepatitis B infection and how they can contribute to its prevention, early diagnosis
and effective management.
The unit has been developed for health or social care professionals involved with
hepatitis B patients/clients.
The education unit has two main components:
self-directed distance learning in three parts – A, B and C.
Content of Part A is liver anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology;
general introduction to hepatitis B infection: the hepatitis B virus and its
characteristics; epidemiology and transmission; serological tests for hepatitis B infection;
prevention; introduction to management.
Content of Part B is chronic HBV infection: natural history; selecting patients for treatment; management.
Part C comprises five case studies related to hepatitis B infection which will help you to consolidate and expand your knowledge.
Parts A and B will be available on the Masterclass plus website. Participants will be able to study Parts A and B online or download them.
Part C will be available on a free CD-ROM with feedback/discussion available via the Masterclass plus website.
About 20 hours of study are required to complete Parts A, B and C.
tutor-led online learning activities and formal assessment at the end. Content is professional, ethical and cultural issues; living with the hepatitis B virus; national policy and context of hepatitis B infection; local provision related to testing, treatment and prevention of hepatitis B infection and consideration of how local services could be improved.
The assessment comprises a practice-based written assignment, 2000 words in length. About 70 hours of study are required to complete the online learning activities and formal assessment at the end.
You can choose to work through Parts A, B and C of the distance learning only, and use the study for your continuing professional development. However, successful completion of the whole education unit means you will be awarded 15 credits at level 3. Credits can be submitted to the University of Greenwich for advanced standing towards one of its awards, or to any other higher education institution that 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 TUTORS
ANGELA NARBEY Research and Good Clinical Practice Cert, Developments in Blood Transfusion Cert, Addictive Behaviour Cert, Bereavement Counselling Cert, Mentorship and Nurse Development Cert, ENB 998, RN (Adult)
Angela is Liver Disease Nurse Specialist at Homerton University Hospital, London and she has varied clinical, management, education and research experience in the area of both hepatitis B and C.
She is a member of the Hepatitis C Forum for East London and is on the Specialist Commissioning Group for National Hepatitis C Services.
Angela is currently studying for an MA in Medical Ethics and Law and is involved in research on the use of supplements in relieving side effects of HCV treatment.
NICHOLAS TATMAN BSc (Hons), Cert in Management, RN (Adult), ENB A25, ENB 998
Nick is Hepatitis Nurse Specialist at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust. He has held this position for over three years and currently treats approximately 50 patients with hepatitis B and 70 patients with hepatitis C annually.
He has been involved in a research study focusing on the relationship between early viral kinetics and immune reactivity in chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1) patients, treated with peg-interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin; as well as various multi-centre trials.
