Stanford University
Symptom Management in Palliative Care
Stanford University

Symptom Management in Palliative Care

This course is part of Palliative Care Always Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Kavitha Ramchandran
Jan DeNofrio
Joshua C. Fronk

Instructors: Kavitha Ramchandran

1,825 already enrolled

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.5

(20 reviews)

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Respond to the subjective experience of symptoms and side effects using assessment tools and communication skills

  • Conduct a pain assessment and provide basic pain management using medication and lifestyle modification

  • Describe several interventions to help with emotions and coping and the role the palliative care psychiatrist plays in caring for the patient

  • Define distress and common causes of emotional distress related to life-threatening illness

Details to know

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Assessments

16 quizzes

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

4.5

(20 reviews)

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours (approximately)
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

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This course is part of the Palliative Care Always Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 6 modules in this course

Regular assessment and management of physical and psychological symptoms is critical to treatment adherence and quality of life for patients. Still, symptoms such as pain, nausea and distress are often under-treated. Palliative care specialists can help when symptoms are difficult to manage. People with a life-threatening diagnosis often experience symptoms that change regularly and may persist as chronic issues throughout life. We discuss common symptoms experienced by people such as pain, nausea and fatigue. Poorly managed symptoms often lead to isolation from regular activities and increased psychological distress. Some patients cite a loss of identity that comes along with life being defined by the experience of symptoms and side effects. In this course, you will learn more about how to identify, assess and manage common physical and psychological symptoms.

What's included

3 readings2 quizzes

This module reviews the concepts learned in the Essentials of Palliative Care course and a brief summary of the symptoms covered in the Symptom Management course. We realize that some learners are interested in only completing specific courses while others are moving through the entire specialization. The following videos are meant as a review for those who have not completed the other courses. You are not required to watch these videos if you feel you have a strong handle on the material. You can check your knowledge with the ungraded quiz in the next section and review the summary videos if necessary. Also contained in this module are the Sarah case study videos from Essentials of Palliative Care for those who want to review her story.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 quiz

This module focuses on pain assessment and management for patients suffering from serious illness. We will also address how pain is subjective and why communication is critical to get a better understanding of a patient's experience.

What's included

2 videos5 readings3 quizzes1 discussion prompt2 plugins

In this module, you will learn more about how to identify, assess and manage common physical symptoms that affect patients with serious illnesses.

What's included

3 videos8 readings5 quizzes1 discussion prompt2 plugins

Emotional distress is common for patients and families living with a serious illness. Distress may surface as a result of, among other things: physical symptoms, fears, uncertainty, or a sense of losing one’s identity. Palliative care, in part, addresses the relationship between disease, stress, social roles and emotional manifestations to improve quality of life for patients and families. Often times this involves managing the emotional adjustment to a diagnosis or at other transition points during the course of disease and survivorship. Patients report that emotional wellbeing is one of the biggest influencers on quality of life. Still, emotional distress is often underreported and under treated. This module will help providers and caregivers conduct a basic screening and assessment for emotional distress and identify several ways to manage distress for those living with serious illness.

What's included

4 videos5 readings3 quizzes1 discussion prompt

Congratulations on completing the course content. You have a few more step to complete the course. First review your reflection, next complete a peer-reviewed course project and then take the final exam. We hope you have enjoyed the course and look forward to seeing you in other classes!

What's included

1 reading2 quizzes1 peer review

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.8 (8 ratings)
Kavitha Ramchandran
Stanford University
5 Courses7,082 learners
Jan DeNofrio
Stanford University
5 Courses7,082 learners
Joshua C. Fronk
Stanford University
1 Course1,825 learners

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