Pain and Symptom Management

Subject 563-801 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 25.000
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 5 hours per week of seminars for 12 weeks, 10.5 hours non-contact study time per week for 12 weeks, one Introductory Day per semester of 8 hours. (Total hours per semester: 194 hours)
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Nil
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability
Subject Overview: This is a practical and clinically-focussed subject that addresses the common management issues in palliative care; with an emphasis on pain, and other common symptoms in the gastrointestinal and other systems, and areas of special needs in palliative care clinical practice. The subject will combine small group seminars with discussions led by experts on the topic under review, comprehensive reading materials reviewing the relevant literature and a problem oriented approach based on common clinical experience. The same reading material is used when taken by distance learning. Distance learning students will also receive audio recordings of the weekly seminars on CD and an electronic copy of any PowerPoint presentations used by the presenter.

Assessment: 50%: Clinical Case write-up and discussion of a patient and their family managed by the student, where prominent acute symptom issues have been present (Max: 5,000 words) - Due week 5 30%: Audit (quality assurance) of a specific area of the students own clinical work and an appraisal of this with recommendations for change (Max: 3,000 words) - Due week 10 20%: Oral presentation and write-up (Max: 1,000 words) - Students will choose a weekly topic to present.
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts: A subject reader will be provided.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

This subject is designed to enable students to:

  • describe pain physiology;
  • demonstrate the ability to diagnose and treat pain states;
  • demonstrate the ability to recognise and manage other symptoms to improve quality of life;
  • demonstrate the ability to recognise signs of pending emergencies in palliative care.

On completion of the subject it is expected that students will be able to:

  • exercise problem solving skills in diagnosing and managing specific symptoms;
  • develop communication skills around personal and stressful issues;
  • understand the role of the multi-disciplinary team in improving the global quality of life of patients and their symptoms.
Related Course(s): Graduate Certificate in Psycho-Oncology
Graduate Diploma in Psycho-Oncology

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