Palliative care: Learning outcomes
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- Describe how opioid and non-opioid analgesics, and adjuvant agents are used in the management of pain in a palliative setting.
- Outline how common symptoms such nausea, vomiting and constipation may be treated in patients with a life-limiting illness.
- Advise on the continuous subcutaneous administration of medicines using a syringe driver.
You can download a PDF of the whole tutorial (without interactive elements such as the Learning exercises) and a one-page summary of key points.
You should allow 90 minutes to complete this tutorial, including the Learning exercises.Competencies
If you are a hospital trainee pharmacist this topic will help you achieve GPhC learning outcomes such as these:- LO 5 Proactively support people to make safe and effective use of their medicines and devices
- LO 12 Take an all-inclusive approach to ensure the most appropriate course of action based on clinical, legal and professional considerations
- LO 16 Apply professional judgement in all circumstances, taking legal and ethical reasoning into account
- LO 27 Take responsibility for the legal, safe and efficient supply, and administration of medicines and devices
- LO 29 Apply the principles of clinical therapeutics, pharmacology and genomics to make effective use of medicines for people
- LO 30 Appraise the evidence base and apply clinical reasoning and professional judgement to make safe and logical decisions which minimise risk and optimise outcomes for the person
- LO 34 Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve health outcomes
- LO 35 Anticipate and recognise adverse drug reactions, and recognise the need to apply the principles of pharmacovigilance
- LO 48 Actively take part in the management of risks and consider the impacts on people
If you are a foundation pharmacist, this tutorial may assist with meeting certain competencies from the RPS framework including:
- 1.1 Applies evidence-based clinical knowledge to make suitable recommendations or take appropriate actions
- 1.6 Uses own pharmaceutical knowledge to positively impact the usage and stewardship of medicines at an individual and population level.
- 1.7 Undertakes a holistic clinical review of a person’s medicines to ensure they are appropriate.
- 2.1 Keeps the individual at the centre of their approach to care at all times.
- 3.1 Draws upon own knowledge and up-to-date guidance to effectively make decisions appropriately and with confidence.
- 3.2 Critically appraises appropriate information to make a decision in an efficient and systematic manner; adopts evidence-informed solutions.
- 3.3 Demonstrate awareness of where to seek appropriate information to solve problems and make decisions.
- 3.5 Manages uncertainty and possible risk appropriately, while ensuring high attention to detail is maintained when making decisions regarding the individual receiving care.
- 6.5 Uses effective questioning when working with individuals receiving care or other healthcare professionals.
Continuing professional development
Finally, here are some CPD activities you could consider:
★ Find out if you have a palliative care team at your trust or in the community and arrange to shadow them.
★ Establish whether you have any local treatment guidelines on managing symptom control in patients living with a life-limiting illness.
★ Find out if you have a palliative care team at your trust or in the community and arrange to shadow them. ★ Establish whether you have any local treatment guidelines on managing symptom control in patients living with a life-limiting illness.
★ Arrange to observe a syringe driver being set up and administered to a patient.