Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Level 7)

Respiratory disease is responsible for much acute and chronic ill health. It is one of the single most common reasons why people consult their general practitioner and accounts for a substantial number of acute hospital admissions. There is a high incidence of both asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease [COPD] within the UK.  National guidelines clearly identify the need for educational programmes to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based guidelines.

This course module aims to influence and change your respiratory practice in relation to asthma and COPD by exploring biopsychosocial aspects of care.

Who is it for?

This course is for any healthcare practitioner who wishes to extend their knowledge and understanding of either asthma and COPD or both.

As this is a Level 7 course you should ideally have studied at Level 6 or 7 previously.

Timetable

Term 3

Benefits

This course is worth 15 credits at Level 7 and can be taken as part of a postgraduate or MSc programme. It can also be taken as a stand-alone course.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

The content of this course includes

• overview of respiratory anatomy and physiology
• obstructive lung disease pathophysiology
• asthma and COPD background and guidelines
• assessment and diagnosis in chronic respiratory disease
• pulmonary function tests and spirometry
• pharmacological treatments in asthma and COPD
• oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation
• the relevance of guidelines for clinical practice
• self-management strategies, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation.
• Palliative care in COPD
• Identification of mental health issues in those with asthma and COPD
• Conducting asthma and COPD reviews

By the end of the course you will be able to

Knowledge and understanding

• Critically evaluate knowledge of relevant pharmacology and pathophysiology and apply this to your clinical decision making.
• Critically examine and evaluate knowledge of evidence-based guidelines in relation to asthma and COPD care

Skills

• Critically evaluate and justify strategies to promote self-management and adherence
• Critically evaluate and apply acquired assessment skills and critically demonstrate the ability to influence patient outcomes
• Critically evaluate and appraise the most effective way of promoting an inter- professional approach to asthma and COPD care.

Values and attitudes

• Critically evaluate and assess the psychological and social impact of chronic illness upon the individual, their family and significant others.

Teaching will include lectures, group discussion, practicals and a laboratory session.

You will develop a case study based on an asthma or COPD review in your area of clinical practice and provide a critique of medicine management according to national and local guidance.

In order to pass the course you need to achieve a grade of 50% or greater for the case study.

You can request a transcript of your result following successful completion of the course.

This course is provided by the School of Health & Medical Sciences.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Non EEA students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone course.

Work/Clinical Placement Requirements

The course requires you to be:

• Working in a suitable practice area
• Working in a clinical placement
• a qualified nurse or allied healthcare professional either in the UK or overseas.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

NM3041 & NMM048 Reading List

Anatomy & Physiology

Marieb, E & Hoehn, K (2022) 12^th Ed Human Anatomy & Physiology London: Pearson

Martini, F., Nath, J., Bartholomew, E., Ober, W. & Ober, C. 12^th Ed (2024) Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology Harlow: Pearson

Pathophysiology

Norris, T L (2024) 11^th Ed. Porth’s Pathophysiology; Concepts of altered health states Philadelphia Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Rogers, J (2022) 9^th Ed McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Diseases in Adults and Children Maryland Heights: Mosby Elsevier

West, J & Luks, A (2021) 10^th Ed West’s Pulmonary Pathophysiology Wolters Kluwer: London

Asthma

Carlsson, JA & Bayes HK (2020) Acute severe asthma in adults Medicine 48 (5) 297-302

Von Mutius E & Smits H (2020) Primary prevention of asthma: from risk and protective factors to targeted strategies for prevention The Lancet 396 (10254) 854-866

Wong E & Farne H (2020) Asthma: diagnosis and management in adults Medicine 48 (5) 303-313

Siddaway, D (2018) Stepping down asthma: perceptions of primary care staff Nursing Times 114 (4)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cheng, D & Hurst, J R (2020) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: aetiology, pathology, physiology and outcome Medicine 48 (5) 328-332

Gundry, S (2020) COPD 1: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and prognosis Nursing Times April 116 (4) 27-30

Gundry, S (2020) COPD 2: Management and nursing care Nursing Times May 116 (5) 48-51

Ramakrishnan, S; Bafadhel, M & Russell, R (2020) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Medicine 48 (5) 333-336

Stephenson, J (2018) Three-quarters of COPD cases linked to childhood risk factors exacerbated in adulthood Nursing Times 6 Apr

Wedzicha, J., Miravitlles, M., Hurst, J., Calverley, P., Albert, R., Anzueto, A., Criner, G., Papi, A., Rabe, K., Rigau, D., Sliwinski, P., Tonia, T., Vestbo, J., Wilson, K. and Krishnan, J. (2017). Management of COPD exacerbations: a European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society guideline. European Respiratory Journal, 49(3) p.1600791.

Clinical Assessment

Dover, A; Innes, J; Fairhurst, K (Eds) (2024) 15^th Ed Macleod's clinical examination London: Elsevier

Resuscitation Council UK (2021) The ABCDE Approach Resuscitation Council Available at: https://www.resus.org.uk/library/abcde-approach

Smith, D. and Bowden, T. (2017) Using the ABCDE approach to assess the deteriorating patient, Nursing Standard. 32(14), 51-61.

Reflection

Mahon, P & O’Neill, M (2020) Through the looking glass: the rabbit hole of reflective practice British Journal of Nursing 29 (13)

Patel, K & Metersky, K (2021) Reflective practice in nursing: A concept analysis International Journal of Nursing Knowledge 33:180–187.

Pharmacology

Barber, P (2013) Medicine Management for Nurses: Case Book McGraw-Hill: Open University Press.

Barber P & Robertson D (2020) 4^th Ed. Essentials of Pharmacology for Nurses Berkshire: McGraw Hill Open University Press

Mutsatsa, S (2021) 3^rd Ed Mental Health Medicines Management for nursesLondon: SAGE

Radcliffe, E & Ibrahim, K (2025) How to deprescribe in primary care and reduce polypharmacy Nursing Times 121 (5)

Rang, H.P, Ritter, J.M, Flower, R and Henderson G (2024) 10^th Ed Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Rogers, K (2014) Nurses! Test yourself in pharmacology McGraw Hill: Open University Press.

Stahl, S (2021) 5^th Ed Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications Cambridge University Press

Clinical Decision Making

Banning, M (2008) A review of clinical decision making: models and current research Journal of Clinical Nursing 17, 187-195

Diamond-Fox, S (2021) Undertaking consultations and clinical assessments at advanced level British Journal of Nursing 30 (4)

NHS Education for Scotland (2013) Clinical Decision Making Available at: Effective Practitioner (scot.nhs.uk)

Updated May 2026