I've also found the course very suitable for working full-time. Because it's remote studying I've been able to work alongside and fit in my sessions. So for me, it was a perfect balance of being able to expand that knowledge and do a really interesting course, while actually fitting in full-time working as well. I've really enjoyed it so far.
Are there any specific modules and topics that you've been particularly interested in and have been impactful on you?
The whole concept of the implementation itself was very new to me. It makes perfect sense when you learn about it in terms of real life context. I found it very interesting. A lot of the implementation science was done in primary care settings, so it helped me really to see how it's very relevant to where I'm trying to go with things. For instance, one of the largest studies we looked at was in chronic kidney disease and how they started in smaller practices, piloted things and then were able to expand that in a bigger area. From that, I can definitely say what I've been learning is very relevant to community settings and primary care.
Tell us a little bit more about the teaching and learning experience in terms of the online experience and your interaction with the other students on the course.
Each module has been set up with an hour online group interaction over Teams. I've been able to fit that in in between my clinics in the day. It’s a very helpful experience, but also enjoyable because you're speaking with other people who come from different backgrounds and contexts, and actually learning quite a lot from their different perspectives. One of my colleagues is working in a Hospice local to me, so I've been able to have excellent links from that. It's been really beneficial that we've been able to discuss things in our area that are relevant to the course.
I found that it was very easy to fit in to my weekly schedule and it also helps you know if you're keeping on track. Great if you are, but sometimes if I've realised that I'd misunderstood something, it was a very simple way of getting back on track. I felt well supported, considering a lot of the concepts were quite new for me.
How has the course influenced your thinking about palliative care?
It's definitely broadened my thinking of who you need to involve to get better services. At the minute, I work in a practice and I think of that team. But from doing this course, it makes me think about the wider teams or the wider people who you'd want to get involved, including how you might involve patients, their relatives and carers. Previously, I hadn't considered that as much as I would now. I'd feel more confident that if I did want to implement something, that process involves not just the team you're working with, it's much wider than that.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about applying to the MSc in Palliative Care: Implementing Best Practice at Hull York Medical School?
I'd say definitely go ahead and do it! I've really enjoyed that experience. Although I've studied Medicine, I'll be honest, the academic side always scared me; it was a bit more intimidating. But actually during this course, I found it very approachable. I was very well supported by both peers and the course leaders as well. From that side, I've not had any concerns or worries.
The course contents has been very engaging and relevant to anyone working in a clinical position. It's a great way of opening up and thinking about things from a different perspective.
Find out more about PGCert, PGDip and MSc Palliative Care: Implementing Best Practice.