Preamble

Regulations for the Diploma in Emergency Medical Care shall apply, subject to provisions of both the University and Faculty General Academic Regulations. University and Faculty regulations take precedence over programme regulations. Palliative care is a specialised approach in health service delivery that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the reduction and relief of suffering. This is done through early identification and correct systematic assessment and treatment of pain and other problems that may be physical, psychosocial and spiritual by a collaborative team of health workers each with their own specialty.

The Post Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care Programme is designed to deepen the health professional’s knowledge and improve practice in palliative care. The course encourages reflection and critical awareness on the experience of illness and end of life care. Learners will be encouraged to consider and reflect on the issues and challenges arising when managing palliative care services and when caring for palliative care patients.

The palliative care diploma will also provide the student with both Continuous Professional Development (CPD) through developing the required skill in their clinical area and Continuous Professional Education (CPE) in preparation for further career advancement e.g. attaining Masters Degrees level and beyond. As a continuing staff development programme the course should be accessible and manageable for the busy health practitioner hence it will be offered on a part time basis.

It is recognised that palliative care should be delivered within an interdisciplinary setting by a range of health service providers. The course is therefore designed for interdisciplinary team training whose participants include doctors, professional nurses, and professional clinical counsellors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, radiographers and other health cadres who hold Degree qualifications. Having a multidisciplinary staff trained from the same health institution has the benefits of mutual support and continued learning and team work amongst them. A multidisciplinary approach such as this will inform the various cadres of their unique role in offering comfort and preserve the dignity of terminally ill patients and those affected.

The Women’s University in Africa has partnered with Hospice Association of Zimbabwe and Island Hospice and Healthcare in offering the Post Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care. It is envisaged that improvements in the care of those with serious, chronic and terminal health conditions will be realised through the provision of palliative care training at advanced level.

Entry Requirements

Subject to provisions of the University and Faculty General Academic Regulations for admission, the following entry requirements shall apply:

A minimum of 5 ‘O’ Level passes including English Language and Mathematics at grade Cor better

Two (2) ‘A’ Level passes in biological science-related subjects is an added advantage.

And

1. A degree in a health-related discipline. The health-related Professions may include: Clinical Officers, Clinical Ophthalmic Nurses, Clinical Dental Therapists, Psychiatry Nurses, Pharmacy Technicians, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Degree in Nursing, Degree in Midwifery, and Medical Doctors in various specialties.
2. A Degree in Psychology and Social Work.
3. Mature entry and working experience of at least one year in those related fields

Duration of Programme

The Post Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care shall take eighteen (18) months to complete. It shall be offered over a period of 3 semesters on a part time basis (during weekends and /or by block releases) to provide expert palliative care training to diverse practitioners.

Objectives of the Programme

The programme is specifically designed to:

1. Impart in-depth knowledge and skills in the use of palliative care principles and theories.
2. Transfer knowledge of safe management of symptoms and pain in people with life threatening illnesses.
3. Provide skills to identify different types of pain (somatic, visceral, neuropathic) and be able to manage them effectively.
4. Develop critical reflective skills and self-evaluation of the palliative care practitioner’s professional practice in each discipline.
5. Promote appreciation of the value of a multi-disciplinary approach to symptom management.
6. Critically analyse and appraise palliative care theory, ethics and professional literature to promote new knowledge and skills in this area through research.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the programme the graduate of the Palliative Care Post Graduate Diploma should be able to:

1. Implement relevant interventions for optimal pain and symptom control in the final stages of life both at home and in institutions.
2. Respect the importance of utilising the patient’s autonomy and integrity in palliative care and accept the patient’s wishes and requests for management and treatment.
3. Demonstrate a team-based approach, by involving and working together with other members of the palliative care team, other related disciplines, and community agencies, depending on patient needs.
4. Discuss end-of life wishes with patient and family and understand a patient’s fear and anxieties about end-of-life issues.
5. Address spiritual and psychosocial issues relating to end of life in liaison with relevant teams and families.
6. Demonstrate awareness of practitioner’s own beliefs and attitudes that can influence their patient assessments, therapeutic relationships and practice during patient care
7. Appraise current research and other evidence to underpin interventions and formulate suggestions for changes in the practice of palliative care.
8. Manage, lead and mentor palliative care team.
9. Establish and analyse palliative care services.

Programme Structure

The Programme will bring people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to work together in care, appraisal, assessment and problem-solving required of a multi-disciplinary/multi-professional team in palliative care. It will be delivered through combination of learning methods including lecturers at WUA, tutorials and clinical attachment at hospitals and hospices.  Clinical and practical skills will also be obtained during and within the leaners’ work settings, using case studies of actual patients cared for. Mentoring visits in institutions of practice will be arranged.

To meet the above requirements, students will undertake course work and examinations in each course per semester.

COURSES ON OFFER

Year 1 Semester 1

Communication Skills

Historical and Fundamental Principles and Standards of Palliative Care

Working in Multidisciplinary Teams

Pain and Symptom Management and Control

Spirituality, Psychosocial Issues and Culture

Children’s Palliative

Self-awareness, Self-Care and Resilience

Introduction to Gender studies

Year 1 Semester 2

Research Methods

Palliative Care Motivational Interviewing and End-of-Life Issues

Leadership and Management in Palliative Care

Palliative Care in Disease Specific Conditions (Palliative Care

End of Life Care

Palliative Care for Special Populations

Teaching Palliative Care, Mentorship, Support and Supervision

Year 2 Semester 1

Entrepreneurial Skills

Clinical Attachment/Internship (2 months)

Clinical Audit

Research Project

Non-Core Courses

• Introduction to Gender Studies
• Communication Skills
• Entrepreneurial Skills

[1] WHO 2013