Module information
Details
- Title
- Clinical Assessment in Respiratory and Sleep Science
- Type
- Specialist
- Module code
- S-RS-S1-1
- Credits
- 10
- Requirement
- Compulsory
Aim of this module
This module will provide trainees with opportunities to assess patients clinically and communicate with patients and wider professional team members regarding diagnosis and prognosis in a variety of formats.
Work-based content
Competencies
| # | Learning outcome | Competency | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| # 1 | Learning outcome 1,4 |
Competency
Obtain informed consent from patients to undertake a clinical history and assessment |
Action View |
| # 2 | Learning outcome 1,2,4 |
Competency
Undertake relevant clinical history of patients referred with respiratory symptoms and develop a plan for further management |
Action View |
| # 3 | Learning outcome 1,2,4 |
Competency
Undertake a relevant clinical history of patients referred with sleep symptoms and develop a plan for further management |
Action View |
| # 4 | Learning outcome 1,3,4,5 |
Competency
Recognise unwell patients during routine tests and respond accordingly |
Action View |
| # 5 | Learning outcome 1,3,4,5 |
Competency
Perform chest examinations and summarise the findings on both:
|
Action View |
| # 6 | Learning outcome 5 |
Competency
Communicate results of diagnostic tests, using recognised systematic tools |
Action View |
| # 7 | Learning outcome 1,2,4,5 |
Competency
Review and modify a patient pathway and communicate changes to the relevant care team |
Action View |
| # 8 | Learning outcome 1, 5 |
Competency
Review diagnostic images of the chest and highlight normal features |
Action View |
| # 9 | Learning outcome 3, 4, 5 |
Competency
Perform resting cardiac diagnostic tests on patients including:
|
Action View |
| # 10 | Learning outcome 1, 3, 4, 5 |
Competency
Perform clinical assessments of patients presenting with suspected sleep disordered breathing |
Action View |
Assessments
Complete 2 Case-Based Discussions
Complete 2 DOPS or OCEs
Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles
- Prepare the patient environment for a procedure ensuring infection control protocols are followed.
- Perform a manual blood pressure measurement.
- Perform a 12 lead ECG measurement.
- Conduct an assessment of the upper airway.
Observed Clinical Event Title
- Take a patient history.
- Communicate results to a patient considering the impact on the individual.
- Explain a complex procedure, using lay terms, to a patient to allow them to provide informed consent.
- Present the result of a clinical assessment to a multidisciplinary team meeting.
Learning outcomes
| # | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the causes of common respiratory symptoms, including breathlessness (dyspnoea), wheezing, coughing and chest pain. |
| 2 | Evaluate the clinical history of a patient with respiratory disease or a sleep condition taking into account the history of the presenting complaint, past medical history, drug history, family history and social history. |
| 3 | Perform a clinical assessment of a patient with respiratory disease or a sleep condition ensuring recognition of the deteriorating patient and appropriate methods of escalation where appropriate. |
| 4 | Demonstrate a patient centered approach to practice, considering communication with patients and relatives, the patient’s experience, quality of life and the wider social impact on the patient and their family. |
| 5 | Interpret the results of a clinical assessment and communicate effectively with respiratory scientists and non-respiratory health care colleagues. |
Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)
Important information
The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:
- Apply integrative knowledge of the process of clinical examination of the cardiovascular system and clinical history taking.
- Describe a range of respiratory disorders from common signs and symptoms.
- Critically appraise the legal and professional issues of advanced practice.
- Critically evaluate anatomical and physiological principles applied to clinical assessment and develop differential diagnoses.
Indicative content
- Knowledge of the underlying aetiology, mechanism, characteristics and presentation of breathlessness (dyspnoea), wheezing, coughing and chest pain
- Physiological landmarks
- Normal and abnormal
- Radiation safety
- Diagnostic imaging e.g. xray, CT, ultrasound etc.
- Relevant factors associated with respiratory disease including smoking, pets, allergy, drugs and occupational
- Social impact of respiratory disease.
- Range of sleep disorders and common signs and symptoms
- Sleep hygiene
- Commissioning
- Drug interactions
- Effective communication including methods of optimising verbal communication and non-verbal communication (body language, facial expressions or tone of voice)
- Overcoming barriers to communication including methods of improving communication between healthcare staff and patients with dementia, autism and hearing impairment
- Airway, breathing and circulation approach to clinical assessment
- Determining the consciousness level of the patient
- Features consistent with respiratory disease, including changes to the head, neck, limbs and hands
- Inspection of the chest to identify normal/abnormal chest shape, evidence of scarring/previous surgery/skin lesions, hyperinflation and use of accessory muscles
- Palpation of the chest to assess chest wall expansion, symmetry and trachea position
- Percussion of the chest
- Auscultation including normal/abnormal breath sounds (crackles, pleural friction rubs, wheezes, rhonchi and stridors), stethoscope structure/function and standard stethoscope positions
- Normal/abnormal breath sounds
- Physiology – structures, syndromes, congenital issues, cleft palate etc
- Clinical assessments e.g. body mass index
- Audit principles
- Communication skills
- Patient centred care
- Patient pathways
- Use of scoring tools e.g. mallampati
Clinical examination of the cardiovascular system and perform a clinical history:
- Presenting complaint, past medical history, drug history, social history, family history and smoking history
Legal and professional issues of advanced practice:
- Evidence-based practice, protocols, guidelines, reflective practice, culture, confidentiality and record-keeping
Physiological deterioration:
- Red flag approach and know when to refer to a senior emergency medical team
Clinical experiences
Important information
Clinical experiential learning is the range of activities trainees may undertake in order to gain the experience and evidence to demonstrate their achievement of module competencies and assessments. The list is not definitive or mandatory, but training officers should ensure, as best training practice, that trainees gain as many of these clinical experiences as possible. They should be included in training plans, and once undertaken they should support the completion of module assessments and competencies within the e-portfolio.
Activities
- Visit a diagnostic imaging department e.g. xray, CT, ultrasound etc.
- Attend a medical consultant led clinic in sleep or respiratory to appreciate the patient experience of their care and the impact of the discussion.
- Attend a medical consultant led ENT clinic to appreciate the patient experience of their care and the impact of the discussion.
- Attend a ward round.
- Follow a patient blood sample from sample collection to results reporting.
- Visit a GP clinic.
Module assigned to
Specialties
| Specialty code | Specialty title | View |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty code SPS1-3-22 | Specialty title Respiratory & Sleep Science [2022] | Action View |
| Specialty code SPS1-3-23 | Specialty title Respiratory & Sleep Science [2023] | Action View |
| Specialty code SPS1-3-24 | Specialty title Respiratory & Sleep Science [2024] | Action View |
| Specialty code SPS1-3-25 | Specialty title Respiratory & Sleep Science [2025] | Action View |