Short Courses in Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention

October 2011 – June 2012

Background

Modules from the Certificate of Advanced Study and Masters Programme in Preventive Cardiology are offered as stand-alone short courses. This exciting programme is delivered by an interdisciplinary team of academic staff from the International Centre for Circulatory Health together with senior clinicians in cardiology, nursing, dietetics, physiotherapy, pharmacology and clinical psychology from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and visiting experts in the field of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation.

Each short course / module includes a taught component which is combined with online learning, enabling our students to work flexibly around other commitments. This enables students to interact with tutors and fellow students, whilst out of College, and access our comprehensive learning resource (e.g. podcasts of all lectures, interactive formative tasks, debate groups, simulated clinical cases).

What will I Learn on these Courses?

Students will gain knowledge of, and experience in, the theory and clinical application of evidence-based preventive cardiology practice. The programme covers the complete spectrum of preventive cardiology, from patients with established atherosclerotic disease and the relatives of patients with premature atherosclerotic disease, to asymptomatic people, including those with diabetes, who are at high multifactorial risk.

The scientific foundation of our programme is lifestyle change (smoking cessation, healthy food choices and physical activity) through behavioural approaches, together with weight management, medical management of blood pressure, blood lipids and blood glucose and use of cardioprotective drug therapies. There is a strong practical emphasis aiming to equip our students with the ability to translate theory to real-world clinical practice.

Our foundation module in ‘Preventive Cardiology Theory and Practice' includes an introduction to each of the six core themes below. Each theme is then explored in detail within 6 dedicated specialist modules.

• Risk estimation

• Smoking cessation

• Nutrition and weight management

• Physical activity and exercise

• Prevention and management of diabetes

• Medical Rifsk Factor Management

Who Should Attend?

The programme is interdisciplinary and aimed at any health professional with a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, for example doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, physical activity specialists, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists, sports scientists, health promotion and public health specialists.CME Approval & Certificate of Attendance

CME approval has been sought.  All participants will be awarded an Imperial College London Certificate of Attendance on completion of the course.

Funding opportunities

Royal College of Nursing offers scholarships and awards for nurses, midwives and health visitors for study, research, travel and conferences.
http://www.rcn.org.uk/membership/scholarshipsawards/rcnmembers

The Florence Nightingale Foundation provides scholarships for nurses and midwives (who have a current registration with the NMC and are working in the UK) to study at home and abroad, to promote innovation in practice and extend knowledge and skills to meet changing needs.
http://www.florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk/ 

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke - The Research Training Scheme offers grants to support research training for nurses and Allied Health Professionals in Northern Ireland. Applicants may apply for support to attend individual courses/modules, e.g. research design and methodology including conducting clinical trials/focus groups, or for completing a research Masters Degree e.g. Master of Clinical Research. The value of the grant will range up to a maximum of £6,000. For full details on how to apply and the latest closing dates, please visit http://www.nichsa.com/research/nurses/

The Worshipful Company of Curriers provides an opportunity for primary healthcare professionals to enhance the healthcare of families and children in Inner London who, through socio-economic deprivation or other adverse social factors, are at high risk of physical and psychological illness. The Bursary provides funding for training courses and for pilot research projects.
http://www.curriers.co.uk/bursary.htm