PMMCOB-Certificate in Obesity Management (Level 7)

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: obtained a first degree or demonstrate the ability to study at Masters level.
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2018/9

Email: k.a.hall@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This course is intended to be a practically focused educational initiative which will equip healthcare practitioners (and other relevant individuals) with the skills to deliver obesity management services. The knowledge and skills gained during the course will enable participants to work with people who are overweight and obese to modify their lifestyles and promote good health. Candidates will be selected for the course according to their role and capacity to undertake obesity management and will continue to work while undertaking the part-time course. The course will consist of four days of class contact, supplemented by individual and work based effort. The content will include both theoretical and practical components. Participants will be expected to contribute to discussions and workshops using their own experience and will undertake a project in their own work area to deliver an initiative focused on obesity management.

Aims:
The aim of the Certificate in Obesity Management is to provide health care practitioners with an understanding of obesity management. The knowledge and skills gained will enable individuals to effectively assess, advise and treat people who are overweight and obese. The course will support the national initiative to tackle obesity by equipping practitioners with the required skills to engage with and support individuals and communities in order to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce obesity.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Following completion of the course practitioners will be able to:

1. Describe the prevalence of obesity
2. List the causes of obesity
3. Understand the consequences of obesity on the health of the population and the associated co-morbidity
4. Assess a patient and develop an appropriate tailored treatment regime including effective weight management strategies and a variety of interventions
5. Carry out effective monitoring and follow up of individuals
6. Use practical skills in obesity management to initiate innovative methods for supporting individuals
7. Analyse and reflect on local and national strategies in obesity management
8. Tailor obesity management strategies to meet the specific needs of the environment and community in which the practitioner works using knowledge of cultural and other factors
9. Initiate a weight management service to meet the needs of the local population
10. Critically appraise current literature
11. Critically reflect on and evaluate local and national strategies in obesity management

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
􀀕 Epidemiology & causes of obesity 􀀖 including rising prevalence, Foresight model, ethnicity, obesogenic environment, genetic causes
􀀕 Medical consequences of obesity 􀀖 Cardiovascular disease, malignancy, diabetes mellitus, etc and financial consequences
􀀕 Social and psychological consequences of obesity. Self esteem/efficacy
􀀕 Benefits of weight loss
􀀕 Introduction to patient assessment to include: Approaching the subject of weight loss, clinical assessment (body mass index , waist circumference, co-morbidities, blood tests, etc) - Previous weight/diet history - Readiness to change
􀀕 Dietary Assessment/Food diaries (principles explained)
􀀕 Principles of weight management. Introduction to behavioural change. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance/algorithms. Care pathways
􀀕 Dietary recommendations/Food labelling
􀀕 Alternative diets/commercial programmes e.g. very low calorie diets, Atkins, Slim Fast, etc
􀀕 Dietary interventions in relation to ethnic groups
􀀕 Activity transition model. Discussion regarding increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Immobilising technologies motivation. Barriers to activity.
􀀕 Physical activity principles. Pedometers. calorie counting on exercise bicycles etc
􀀕 Behaviour change including managing expectations, motivational interviewing, principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, self-monitoring, stimulus control, stress management, goal setting etc
􀀕 The role of pharmacotherapy - current drugs, future drugs, indications / contra-indications, efficacy, NICE guidance
􀀕 The role of surgery 􀀖 evidence base, assessment, indications, contraindications, types of surgery and follow up
􀀕 Prevention of obesity including diabetes prevention. Social marketing

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Learning and teaching strategies will take a blended learning approach, mixing both face to face and student managed activities, including:
Problem based learning
Focused discussion
Tutorials
Lectures
Guided study through workbooks
Work based learning
Patient focused activities
Case studies
The aim is that all teaching and learning is focused on the practitioners􀀒 own work area, using their experience and enabling development of appropriate and relevant weight management interventions.

Practitioners are expected to take responsibility for their own self- directed learning, equivalent to one day a week. They are required to access a variety of sources in order to gain information to support learning and to help complete practice activities and coursework assignments. A Black Board site will support practitioners􀀒 self-directed learning.

Summative assessment- Examinations:
No examination

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
The course will be assessed by a portfolio approach. Practitioners will be required to collect evidence of achievement of learning outcomes. Evidence can be obtained from completion of on-line assessments, logs of learning in practice and details of how learning has been implemented in practice.

If students decide during the course not to seek formal assessment they can switch to the non-credit bearing course which is not assessed. Participants will receive a record of attendance.

Formative assessment methods:
Formative feedback is provided on all aspects of the portfolio

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
Practitioners are required to have competence of all elements of the course.

If a student has registered to be assessed at level 7, but their work is assessed to be satisfactory at level 6 rather than level 7, they will be offered either a level 6 certificate or the option to resubmit additional work at level 7.

Practitioners studying at level 7 are required to achieve a pass mark of 50%, in line with the Masters/diploma level marking criteria.

Reassessment arrangements:
If the assessment does not meet the required standard, practitioners will be given an opportunity to resubmit. All reassessments which meet the required standard are graded as a bare pass of 50% for level 7. The resubmission date for failed assignment will be agreed by the Board of Examiners.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 20 April 2018