Dysphagia: Swallowing Difficulties and Medicines
This course will enhance the knowledge of any person involved in the administration of medicines to patients with dysphagia.
39,829 enrolled on this course
Duration
6 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
Dysphagia: Swallowing Difficulties and Medicines
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
The course offers an opportunity to network with other learners and with the creators of the course through discussions, graphs and social networking features and to share knowledge with other learners and professionals. By completing this online course participants will be able to describe:
- the swallowing process and different causes of swallowing problems
- the different types of medicines formulations and how these should be administered to patients
- how tablets and capsules are designed to ensure that drugs are appropriately distributed in the body
- special considerations which need to be taken into account when giving medicines to older people and children
- the law relating to the selection and administration of medicines
- how best to administer medicines to patients with dysphagia
You can use the hashtag #FLswallowMed to join and contribute to social media conversations about this course.
We look forward to seeing you on the course.
Syllabus
Week 1
Dysphagia: overview
Introduction to the course
In the first activity this week you will be able to complete four steps; how to use FutureLearn, meet the team behind this course, introduction to the course and welcome to Week 1.
The swallowing process and causes of swallowing difficulties
This activity will guide you through the main reasons for dysphagia to develop and the impact on patients' health.
Signs and symptoms of dysphagia
Dysphagia may involve impairment in any or all phases of the swallowing process affecting the control of the bolus. This activity will guides through the signs and symptoms of this disorder.
Conditions associated with dysphagia
Aside from dysphagia being a common factor in the ageing process, there are several medical conditions that can also impact on the ability to swallow. This activity will explain more.
The role of healthcare professionals (HCP) in dysphagia
A multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and management of dysphagia has been shown to be beneficial for the patients. This section will explain the role of the speech and language therapist in the assessment of dysphagia.
End of Week 1
So, do you want to learn how much you have learnt this week? Let's see how you do in the quiz.
"Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"
This book provides more background information for this week in order to consolidate your knowledge and includes diagrams of the different stages of swallowing.
Week 2
Oral formulations and medicines management
Welcome to Week 2
This week the focus will be on the different oral formulations available and the issues with each one. You will also learn about medicines management issues and the consequences of tampering with oral formulations.
Understanding different oral formulations
You will gain an understanding of the different oral formulations available in this activity.
How solid dose formulations work
This activity will describe the potential consequences of formulation tampering.
Guidelines on the medication management of adults with swallowing difficulties
A guideline is a statement by which to determine a course of action. This activity will guide you on the management of medication when dysphagia appears.
Tampering with medication
This activity will guide you through the do’s and don’ts of altering medication and how to manage the medication for those who cannot swallow.
End of Week 2
In this activity you will have the opportunity to discuss and explore what you have learnt this week.
"Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"
This book provides more background information for this week. Read chapter 2: prescribing for patients with dysphagia and chapter 4: prescribing oral medicines.
Week 3
Medicines law, unlicensed medicines & patients rights
Welcome to Week 3
This week Professor David Wright will go though the underpinning areas of medicines law, unlicensed medicines and summarise what you have learnt.
Dysphagia: prescribing law
This activity will describe the legal framework surrounding the prescribing process in terms of the Consumer Protection Act and The Human Medicines Regulations 2012
Licensed and unlicensed medicines
This activity will help you to differentiate between licensed and unlicensed medicines.
Patient rights
In this activity you will explore the patients rights in medication administration
End of Week 3
How much have we learnt this week?
"Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"
This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.
Week 4
Medication taking behaviour
Welcome to Week 4
This week focuses on medication adherence and medication taking behaviour.
Adherence
This activity will describe the factors which influence patient decisions to take their medicines.
Management of non-adherent behaviour
Before trying to improve the adherence of medication, try to identify in this activity the causes for that behaviour.
The role of adherence in dysphagia
This activity will introduce you to some techniques to improve the adherence to treatment.
End of Week 4
Take the test in the next step. Do you feel more confident in managing adherence?
"Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"
This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.
Week 5
Ageing and dysphagia
Welcome to Week 5
This week the focus is on the impact of ageing.
Changes associated with ageing
In this activity, we will describe briefly the changes that occur in our body as we age.
Management of multiple medicines
This activity will outlinehow drug and dose selection should be altered for the older person
End of Week 5
Take some time know to reflect on what you have learnt this week
"Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"
This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.
Week 6
Swallowing difficulties in young age
Welcome to Week 6
By the end of this week you will be able to identify the key points and factors to consider when prescribing or giving medication to children.
Managing the medication for the younger person
By the end of this activity you will be able to describe why a younger person cannot be treated as a small adult with respect to prescribing medicines.
Factors to consider when prescribing to the young population
Managing the medication for children requires the consideration of many other factors. Follow the videos and discussion to identify some of these concerns.
Considerations when using oral formulations
When giving medicines to children, there are many factors that need to be considered and it isn't always as easy as just giving a liquid medicine.
End of Week 6
In this activity you will have the chance to test the knowledge acquired this week. Do you need to revise the previous activities?
"Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"
This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe the swallowing process and different causes of swallowing problems.
- Describe the different types of medicines formulations and how these should be administered to patients.
- Describe how tablets and capsules are designed to ensure that drugs are appropriately distributed in the body.
- Describe special considerations which need to be taken into account when giving medicines to older people and children.
- Describe the special considerations which are required to administer medicines via enteral tubes.
- Describe the law relating to the selection and administration of medicines.
- Describe how best to administer medicines to patients with dysphagia.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone with an interest in medicines, the swallowing process, and different causes of swallowing problems
You don’t need any prior experience however, it will be of particular interest to carers, nurses, and those in the field of medicine.
What do people say about this course?
"Thank you- I too have done several FutureLearn courses, I have thoroughly enjoyed this course, it has been extremely beneficial, very informative and useful to my practice. A massive thanks to my fellow learners whose comments I have enjoyed reading and participating in discussions. Well done UEA, this has been well structured, easy to follow and interesting content and I will be keeping an eye out for the next course you run."
"It was good to get a basic grasp of the wide ranging physiological problems which can lead to dysphagia in different age groups. I also found the information about pediatric dysphagia to be very useful."
Who will you learn with?
Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia. Research interests include the management of medicines and their administration to patients with dysphagia
Who developed the course?
UEA (University of East Anglia)
The University of East Anglia is an internationally renowned university providing top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 15,000 students from over 100 countries around the globe.
Endorsers and supporters
funded by
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $109/one-off payment | $39.99 For your first month. Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 19 Jan 2025 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Tests to check your learning | tick | tick | cross |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$39.99
For your first month. Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$109/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 19 Jan 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
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