The Royal Marsden School of Cancer Nursing and Rehabilitation has launched a new online course on malignant mesothelioma in conjunction with a national charity, Mesothelioma UK, the national Macmillan Mesothelioma Resource Centre.
The course, the first wholly online course for the School, has been developed by academic and clinical staff from The Royal Marsden Hospital and The University Hospitals of Leicester, the host centre for Mesothelioma UK.
The course, which is for nurses and allied health professionals, is delivered as an e-learning package; students use an online forum to access resources, discussion forums, activities and materials.
The content of the course includes:
- epidemiology and the social context of mesothelioma
- pathology and diagnostic difficulties
- treatment options
- supportive care of patients and carers
- end-of-life care.
Find out more about the course.
New course, new relationship
Sara Lister, Assistant Chief Nurse/ Head of School, based at The Royal Marsden Hospital’s Chelsea site, said she was delighted with the new online course and the new relationship with Mesothelioma UK.
She added: “This is our first completely online course and is continuing proof of our desire to ensure that health care professionals from around the UK have access to courses at The Royal Marsden School of Cancer Nursing and Rehabilitation which are designed by clinical and academic experts.”
Specialist mesothelioma course
Liz Darlison, Nurse Consultant from University Hospitals of Leicester and clinical lead for Mesothelioma UK said.
“The provision of this specialist ‘Mesothelioma Care in Practice’ module is a huge achievement that will undoubtedly impact positively on mesothelioma patients' and carers' outcomes and experience of care”.
She also said, “Having the opportunity to work in partnership with The Royal Marsden School of Cancer Nursing and Rehabilitation is testament to their passion about sharing knowledge in cancer.
“Mesothelioma is perhaps the most challenging of all cancers. If we can equip ourselves through this course and the improvement of knowledge, the benefits could reach far wider than just mesothelioma patients and their carers”
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is mainly caused through occupational exposure to asbestos. As care is complex due to the nature of the disease, care should be delivered by appropriately trained specialists.
This is especially true because disease incidence is growing and is set to peak around 2015. Global consumption of asbestos continues and it is estimated that 10 million lives will be lost before asbestos is banned worldwide.