6. Themed Days - Primary Care

6.7. Coronary heart disease

Preparatory work

In preparation you should have: 

 

  • Watch this short 1-minute video about coronary heart disease (CHD).  For the session you should be able to recall three main factors that lead to CHD.   Start to practice how you might explain atherosclerosis to someone in simple terms and how they might slow the process. 

 

  • Looked at the NHS conditions website to get a quick overview of what Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is, how it is diagnosed and treated and the impact it can have on patients' lives.   

 

  • Reviewed this NHS Inform article on the different aspects of prevention of CHD and considered the role that the primary care team play in this 

 

  

Aims 

To introduce you to the pathophysiology of CHD, its impact on population morbidity and mortality, and the health promotion interventions used to try and reduce CHD. 

  

Learning outcomes 

By the end of the day, should be able to: 

  • Explain the process of development of CHD 

  • Outline the impact of CHD on individuals and on population morbidity and mortality 

  • Describe key health promotion interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality due to CHD 

  • Discuss the impact of CHD on an individual patent 

  • Identify key policy documents relating to CHD 

  

Example timetable 

 

9.30 – 10.30 

Tutorial on CHD.  Please reflect upon the factors leading to CHD from the video.    What was the impact that CHD could have upon an individuals life?  How can we prevent CHD and what role does primary care play in this?

  

10.30 – 10.45 

  

Tea break 

10.45 – 11.45 

Prepare for patient encounters 

  • Plan questions and observations 

  

Patient encounters 

  • Interview a patient with CHD 

  • Sit in on a clinic with GP/practice nurse 

  • Observe a health promotion intervention e.g. long-term condition check up   

  

11.45 – 12.30 

  

Students feedback to group on their patient encounters 

  

Set up afternoon activity; 

In small groups visit/research local services/facilities that provide support for people with or at risk of CHD and/or meet someone involved with delivering these services 

  

12.30 – 13.30 

Lunch 

  

13.30 – 15.15 

Small group activities as planned 

 

1:1 formative feedback meeting with GP tutor 

 

Includes tea break 

 

15.15 – 16.00 

Feedback to group about visit/research/interview 

  

Set homework for next session 

  

 

Suggested Activities 

  • Tutorial on CHD – could include the pathophysiology of CHD; students present on different cardiac conditions; group makes list of risk factors for CHD (modifiable/non-modifiable) and consider health promotion interventions to tackle modifiable risk factors; discuss the impact CHD has on the workload of the practice. 

  • Review of the practice strategy for monitoring and managing patients with known CHD and at risk of CHD. 

  • Observation of health promotion interventions aimed at preventing or reducing the risk of CHD. 

  • Interview a patient with, or at risk of, CHD. 

  • Case studies – e.g. new patient checks, look for risk factors – which are modifiable and what are the next steps in advising and supporting this patient? 

  • In small groups visit/research local services/facilities that provide support for people with or at risk of CHD and/or meet someone involved with delivering these services e.g. interview a community cardiac nurse. 

  • In pairs, students choose a health promotion topic related to CHD and prepare some guidance to give patients. 

  • Individual meeting with GP tutor for formative feedback on progress to date with learning activities, first written assessment and on professional attitude and conduct.      

 

  

Questions for you to consider 

  • If you met a patient with CHD– how did they describe their life, what did they find most difficult, had they made any lifestyle changes following their diagnosis? 

  • What local services and facilities did you find out about today? How did they try to meet the needs of the local community? What else do you think would be beneficial to support better health promotion in the area? 

  • You may have a meeting today with your tutor.  How do you feel you are progressing? Have you set yourself any learning outcomes as a result of your experiences so far? Were you surprised at your tutor’s analysis of your progress?