Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The module aims to cover the key areas underpinning the pathophysiological changes that lead to cardiovascular disease. This knowledge will be used to provide a basis for the rationale for pharmacological intervention in the treatment of disease.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus will be divided into a series of cardiovascular clinical conditions. Each case will consist of a clinical presentation where the underpinning pathophysiological changes will be examined in detail. This will be used as the basis on which to examine in detail the rational used of drugs to treat cardiovascular disease. The sessions will comprise examining the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions and a detailed discussion of the mechanism of action of drugs. The importance of NICE guideline and the BNF to safe prescribing will also be discussed alongside the more detailed pharmacology.

Cases that will be presented will include:
•       Hypertension
•       Myocardial ischaemia 1: atherosclerosis and angina
•       Myocardial ischaemia 2: Acute coronary syndromes including STEMI and NSTEMI
•       Heart Failure and Oedema
•       Arrhythmias
•       Anaemia
•       Stroke and Thrombosis

Each case will comprise an initial presentation (simulation where appropriate) followed by a series of lectures and seminars and include ‘Self Taught ‘learning outcomes.

The syllabus will include the opportunity for students to research a particular area of interest based on one of the above cases and prepare a brief, conference style abstract for summative assessment. A follow up to this task will involve students who have submitted abstracts covering similar themes to then prepare and present a group poster. This will form a further summative component of the assessment process. The final summative component being an invigilated online assessment consisting of a section of SBA/MCQ style questions and a further Short Answer response component which will allow a greater degree of data interpretation as part of the assessment process.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of this module students will be able to:

1.Describe the main control systems involved in regulating blood pressure at systemic and local levels
2.Describe the cellular mechanisms leading to the generation and regulation of the cardiac action potentials
3.Explain mechanisms involved in excitation-contraction coupling of cardiac muscle cells and how these processes are controlled, particularly by the regulation of intracellular Ca2+
4.Explain mechanisms involved in excitation-contraction coupling of vascular smooth muscles cells and how these processes are controlled, particularly by the regulation of intracellular Ca2+
5.Describe and interpret the consequences of remodelling of excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac and vascular tissues in exercise, pregnancy, ageing and disease states.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1.Construct a concise conference style abstract using their knowledge from the course and additional reading.
2.Demonstrate they can collaborate with others to organise, plan and prepare a poster presentation.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures and lecture materials will present the clinical case study and will impart new information which underpins the pathophysiological changes being examined.

Small group teaching sessions will reinforce taught material and will provide an opportunity for students to clarify concepts or challenge their learning through peer and staff discussions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The conference style abstract will assess the students’ ability to research a topic in greater depth showing their critical analysis skills as well as their general writing skills as the assessment is a concise summary/abstract. This assessment will then be extended when students must collaborate in a group to collate their findings and share their knowledge of a particular cardiovascular presentation to create a conference style poster. The poster will therefore assess the students' teamwork skills as well as more specific writing and presentation skills in the poster presentation session.

The final exam has both SBA and MCQ style questions and a further Short Answer response component to assess student’s data interpretation skills as well as theoretical knowledge.

General Notes

N/A