THE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION 1. Programme title and designation Pain: Science and Society 2. Final award Award Title Credit value ECTS equivalent Any special criteria MSc Pain: Science and 180 90 N/A Society 3. Final award Award Title Credit value ECTS equivalent Any special criteria N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4. Final award Award Title Credit value ECTS equivalent Any special criteria N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 5. Level in the qualifications framework M 6. Attendance Full-time Part-time Distance learning Mode of attendance N/A Minimum length of programme 1 year 2 year Maximum length of programme 3 year 6 year 7. Awarding institution/body King s College London 8. Teaching institution King s College London 9. Proposing department Academic Department of Physiotherapy 10. Programme organiser and contact Details 11. UCAS code (if appropriate) n/a 12. Relevant QAA subject benchmark/ professional and statutory body guidelines Dr Mick Thacker Academic Department of Physiotherapy School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Shepherd s House, Guy s Campus Tel. Extn. 6333 Conforms to Curriculum of International Association for the Study of Pain. (Nursing, Medical, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy) Pain Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Nursing, Medical, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy) 13. Date of production of specification November 2003 (CF version Jan 07) 14. Date of programme review 2015/16
16. Educational aims of the programme The aim of the MSc in Pain: Science and Society is to increase the depth of knowledge of clinicians in the management of pain. It also aims to encourage understanding of pain in a multidimensional context and empower the students to be able to justify, critically appraise, systematically analyse and reflect on their own clinical practice and learning. Furthermore the programme aims to enable the student to continue their professional education and contribute a greater role in the wider field of pain management. 17. Educational objectives of the programme/programme outcomes These educational objectives and programme outcomes are matched to the following headings taken from the International Association for the Study of Pain s Core Curriculum for Professional Education in Pain document. Principles: 1. Pain is viewed as a multidimensional experience that has many components in addition to nociception. These include sensory, emotional, cognitive, developmental, behavioural and cultural components, all of which may influence pain perception and response. 2. Pain must be assessed in a systematic way and the assessment should be considered a necessary part of management. 3. All pain management and assessment, integral parts of pain management, must involve the patient. 4. Individuals managing pain require a critical and analytical understanding of the biological, physical and behavioural sciences that underpin clinical decision-making. 5. Individuals managing pain need to develop the capacity for consistent and critical evaluation and synthesis of specific knowledge in a variety of practice and academic contexts. Programme Objectives 1. Understand the current theories of the anatomical, physiological and psychological basis of pain and its relief. 2. Recognise how age, gender, family, culture, spirituality, and the environment contribute to the pain experience and must be considered in assessment and management of pain. 3. Recognise how variables such as stress, anxiety, fear, and fatigue contribute to the pain experience and must be considered in assessment and management of pain. 4. Be able to assess the pain experience and resulting therapeutic needs within relevant professional frameworks. 5. Recognise the differences between acute and chronic pain and their implications for assessment and management of pain. 6. Emphasise performance of a comprehensive evaluation and treatment to prevent chronicity. 7. Be familiar with the reliability, validity and benefits of self-report, behavioural and psychological measures to assess and measure pain, pain experience, and impact of pain on everyday life. 8. Use a person-centred perspective to formulate collaborative intervention strategies consistent with an appropriate professional perspective. 9. Adopt a critical appraisal perspective toward the use of assessment and intervention strategies and outcome measures. 10. Understand the prevention of pain within a framework of health promotion and illness
prevention. 11. Be familiar with the roles and responsibilities of other health care professionals in the area of pain management and the merits of interdisciplinary collaboration. 12. Recognise the changing nature of knowledge and underlying pain mechanisms and the importance of ongoing pain education. 13. Integrate knowledge and relevant evidence with clinical expertise and client perspectives in the planning and implementation of service planning, delivery and evaluation. Knowledge and understanding The programme provides a knowledge and understanding of the following: Scientific Basis: Molecules and mechanisms. Includes: Physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, biochemistry and molecular and pathobiology of pain. Neuronal plasticity and psychobiology will also be included. Context: Man/Mankind Clinical features of various pain states and painful conditions, pain measurement, evaluation of individuals in pain, pain behaviours, coping strategies. Sociology and cultural aspects of pain. Epidemiology and genetics. Occupational factors and pain. The relationship of pain to art and politics, spirituality. Measurement and research strategies. Management: Man/Mankind Therapeutic management including, pharmacology, non-pharmacological management, rehabilitation, cognitive behavioural management of pain, invasive pain management, complimentary therapies, counselling and rehabilitation based perspectives. An appreciation of ethical issues in research and practice in the field of Pain: Science and Society Students will have blocks of academic study during which they will have time for reflection and integration. Independent study will be timetabled into the entire programme, which is timetabled over a five-day week. During college based studies the students are expected and encouraged to draw upon their existing experience in order to facilitate debate and analysis of practice. The majority of the teaching will take place in small groups, however some formal lead lectures (with students from other programmes) will occur. Furthermore smaller group work and practical workshops will also be included in order to facilitate peer learning and discussion/debate of reflective practice. The assessment strategy for the programme integrates an understanding of knowledge, intellectual, practical and generic skills. The assessment method for the programme includes written (unseen and prior disclosure), research essays and/or case histories. Single oral presentations. Research Project (literature review and research paper) Intellectual skills: Critical evaluation of current pain management Skills and other attributes
interventions in the of current evidence based practice and scientific research To select and justify a range of appropriate modalities/approaches, extracting information from assessments results in order to plan optimum interventions and critically evaluate the outcome in re-assessment processes On reflection of professional clinical practice to identify specific areas where scientific evidence is lacking and formulate research questions and conduct key activities of the research processes To identify a research question, select, plan and implement a research strategy to investigate it, systematically review findings and disseminate appropriately. Practical skills: These are primarily broad based management techniques taught mainly in the interdisciplinary treatment sessions and complemented with student's professional experience from clinical practice in health care settings. Additional practical skills are required and practised during the research project module. Generic/transferable skills: Critical analysis of reliability and validity of information Reflection of and on practice Numerical and IT skills Identify a research question The teaching of these intellectual skills are integrated in most small group situations where the students are able to openly debate, discuss, critically appraise and reflect on contemporary practice issues. Intellectual skills are assessed via the following: Single oral presentations Researched Essays and Case Histories Research Project (literature review and research paper) Practical workshops Collection of data for research project Single oral presentation Research project Practical Workshops Written and Oral assessments Research project Written examination Research Project Oral presentations 18. Statement of how the programme has been informed by the relevant subject benchmark statement(s)/professional, regulatory and statutory body guidelines
This program satisfies and exceeds the core curriculum for professional education in pain as proposed by the International Association of Pain and The Pain society of Great Britain and Ireland. 19. Programme structure and award requirements (where relevant the information should also differentiate the particular requirements of pathways within a programme or nested/exit awards) (a) numbers of introductory, core, compulsory and optional modules to be taken in each year of the programme with related credit values The MSc is based on the award of 180 credits divided between the modules as follows: Neuroscience of Pain 30 credits Interdisciplinary Pain Management 30 credits Research Methodology & Measuring Pain 60 credits The Brain & Pain 15 credits Clinical Aspects of Pain 30 credits Philosophy of Pain 15 credits Face, Head and Neck Pain 15 credits All modules are core and all must be passed for the award of the MSc in Pain: Science and Society, with the exception of the two Core Compulsory modules Philosophy of Pain and Face, Head and Neck Pain, one of which must be taken and passed (b) range of credit levels permitted within the programme Level 7 (c) maximum number of credits permitted at the lowest level 180 (d) minimum number of credits required at the highest level 180 (e) progression and award requirements (if different from the standard) N/A (f) maximum number of credits permitted with a condoned fail (core modules excluded) 0 (g) are students permitted to take a substitute module, as per regulation A3, 20.7? No (h) other relevant information to explain the programme structure The MSc in Pain: Science and Society runs over either 1 (Full Time) or 2 (Part Time) calendar years. The year is divided into three semesters, A, B and C. Semester A runs from the week 1 (beginning of the academic year), to week 15 (The end of Clinical Aspects in Pain). Semester B from week 16 until week 27 (following Interdisciplinary Pain Management) and Semester C from week 28 to week 42. Full Time students will attend for the entire programme and the part time students will attend as
detailed below. The full time programme comprises of 42 weeks of study with 7 weeks of vacation. The 42 weeks include: 33 weeks of college based study 1 examination week 1 revision week 7 weeks of research provision The part time option will also run as periods of block release over a 42 week per year timetable and include: Year 1 18 weeks of college based study 1 examination week 1 revision week Year 2 15 weeks of college based study 1 examination week 1 revision week 7 weeks of research provision
Programme structure Title Credit level Credit value Status (I, Cr, Cp, O) for each type of programme Single Joint Progression Major/ minor Single Joint Assessment 7MPTM026 Neuroscience of Pain 7 30 Cr Yes Written exam 7MPTM025 Interdisciplinary Pain Management 7 30 Cr Yes Written exam, coursework 7MPTM027 Research Methodology & Measuring Pain 7 60 Cr Yes Dissertation 7MPTM028 The Brain & Pain 7 15 Cr Yes Written exam, coursework 7BBRM023 Clinical Aspects of Pain 7 30 Cr Yes Written exam, coursework TBC: Philosophy of Pain 7 15 CrCp Yes Oral examination TBC: Face, Head & Neck Pain 7 15 CrCp Yes Oral examination Major/ minor 20. Marking criteria All modules will be marked in accordance with the School s marking criteria.