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Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Understanding Inherited High Cholesterol

Explore the significance of familial hypercholesterolemia in healthcare with this comprehensive short course from the NHS.

410 enrolled on this course

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Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Understanding Inherited High Cholesterol

410 enrolled on this course

  • 6 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

Understand and manage familial hypercholesterolemia for future generations

Unlock the key to understanding and managing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited condition causing high cholesterol levels. This online course equips you with essential skills to identify, diagnose, and support patients with FH.

Understand the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia and clinical criteria

On the first two weeks of this course, you’ll delve into the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and understand the clinical criteria for identifying this condition.

You’ll discover why FH is considered a significant health priority and learn how healthcare professionals play a crucial role in managing this genetic disorder.

Learn the critical role of family history in diagnosing familial hypercholesterolemia

By the second half of this course, you’ll consider family history as a diagnostic tool for FH. You’ll do so by exploring methods to collect pertinent family history information and practise the skill of drawing a family tree.

You’ll understand how family history can reveal risks and aid in managing familial hypercholesterolemia effectively.

You’ll wrap up this course by discussing the principles of consent during genomic testing consultations for FH. You’ll promote ethical practices by learning how to document genomic conversations accurately and ensure patients are well-informed about testing options.

By completing this course, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of familial hypercholesterolemia to become a key player in the management of patient interventions for FH.

The course was created with support from Northumbria University and Wessex FH Service (Central & South GMSA).

Download video: standard or HD

What topics will you cover?

  1. What is FH and the background to service development
  2. Starting the genomic conversation
  3. Family history taking and family tree drawing as an assessment tool for FH
  4. Principles of consent and documentation for genomic testing
  5. Providing the results of a genetic test and providing patient support
  6. Understanding cascade testing and appreciating professional roles in FH

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...

  • Develop improved knowledge and a deeper understanding of FH including the needs of the individual and family diagnosed with this inherited condition.
  • Identify those at risk of FH and provide information and support during the patient journey.
  • Apply the principles of genomic counselling and testing and the implications of genomic results. Describe the role of the multi-disciplinary team and have an awareness of one's own professional responsibilities in the management of patients with FH.

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals involved in the identification and care of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, including those in cardiac services, lipid services, primary care, and genetic counselling roles.

Who will you learn with?

I am a GP in Leeds and a GPwSI in Genetics within the Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service. I have a longstanding interest in Genetics Education and Service Development within Primary Care.

Lead Consultant Genetic Counsellor for Wessex Clinical Genetics Service and Clinical Lead for the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Service. Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Southampton University.

I am Dr Deborah Leetham and am an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University. I am an adult Nurse with expertise in genomic education in which I have a PhD.

Who developed the course?

NHS England

The Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E) directorate of NHS England (NHSE) ensures the NHS in England has a sufficient and inclusive workforce with the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver compassionate high-quality health and care to the people it serves.

NHS North Thames

We are one of seven regional services established by the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS), each responsible for coordinating genomics for part of England. Through the work of the GMS, the NHS will become the first health service in the world to embed genomics into routine care.

NHS North East and Yorkshire

The North East and Yorkshire NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) brings together regional Clinical Partners, the Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) and the Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (GMSA) – all working together to improve health and equity of access to genomic tests and treatments for patients in the region.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

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
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Subscribe & save

$349.99 for one year

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
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 6 Jun 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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