Andy
Senior Member (Voting rights)
Nina Muirhead has created this free Continuous Professional Development module for health professionals in the UK.
For those interested, it's possible to view, and even complete, the module but you will need to create a free account - you will have to claim that you are a health professional of some sort, I simply said I was a medical student.
https://www.studyprn.com/p/chronic-fatigue-syndrome
This is the introductory page:
Introduction
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has a prevalence rate of around 0.2-0.4%, with more women affected than men, in the ratio of approximately 3:1. This equates to an estimated 250,000 people with ME/CFS in the UK, of whom about 25% are housebound or bedbound.
There are two peaks of incidence: one in adolescence and another in people aged 30-50. ME/CFS remains a major social and economic challenge with significant numbers of cases unrecognised or waiting years for a diagnosis, and the total annual cost to the UK economy estimated at £3.3 billion in 2014-15. More than 70% of patients report that their ME/CFS was triggered by a viral infection and approximately 40% have a first degree relative with an autoimmune condition.
There is a reduction in quality of life of family members and some families have several members with ME/CFS. ME/CFS affects people across all social groups, with one study revealing that it may be more common in people from ethnic minorities. Long term prognosis and life expectancy are unknown, adolescents tend to do better than adults. Research has consistently shown that ME/CFS has a major negative impact on the quality of life of patients, of whom as few as 5% fully recover.
Aims and Objectives
For those interested, it's possible to view, and even complete, the module but you will need to create a free account - you will have to claim that you are a health professional of some sort, I simply said I was a medical student.
https://www.studyprn.com/p/chronic-fatigue-syndrome
This is the introductory page:
Introduction
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has a prevalence rate of around 0.2-0.4%, with more women affected than men, in the ratio of approximately 3:1. This equates to an estimated 250,000 people with ME/CFS in the UK, of whom about 25% are housebound or bedbound.
There are two peaks of incidence: one in adolescence and another in people aged 30-50. ME/CFS remains a major social and economic challenge with significant numbers of cases unrecognised or waiting years for a diagnosis, and the total annual cost to the UK economy estimated at £3.3 billion in 2014-15. More than 70% of patients report that their ME/CFS was triggered by a viral infection and approximately 40% have a first degree relative with an autoimmune condition.
There is a reduction in quality of life of family members and some families have several members with ME/CFS. ME/CFS affects people across all social groups, with one study revealing that it may be more common in people from ethnic minorities. Long term prognosis and life expectancy are unknown, adolescents tend to do better than adults. Research has consistently shown that ME/CFS has a major negative impact on the quality of life of patients, of whom as few as 5% fully recover.
Aims and Objectives
- To update professionals with the evolving international biomedical narrative on ME/CFS
- To identify post exertional malaise as a principal feature of ME/CFS
- To gain an understanding of the main diagnostic features of ME/CFS
- To identify commonly comorbid conditions related to ME/CFS
- To recognise the importance of early and accurate diagnosis
- To be aware of differential diagnoses that may emerge, both when considering a diagnosis of ME/CFS, and following a diagnosis of ME/CFS
- To consider the common relevant blood tests and investigations for excluding alternative diagnoses and establishing disease features relevant to ME/CFS
- To summarise the dangers of prescribing exercise for ME/CFS
- To evaluate the needs of individuals in formulating treatment plans and propose the need for development of disease-specific pharmacological management
- To judge the impact on quality of life with an emphasis on the importance of listening to, believing and supporting patients, and families, affected by ME/CFS
- To appreciate that ME/CFS affects minority groups
- To establish a cognisance of the heterogeneous nature of the condition, common patterns of onset, the fluctuating levels of ability, variability in presentation, course of illness and outcomes, and range of severity including mild, moderate, severe and very severe
- To appreciate the importance of providing patients with relevant documentation in connection with applications for state benefits and social and community care
