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Dysphagia: Swallowing Difficulties and Medicines

This course will enhance the knowledge of any person involved in the administration of medicines to patients with dysphagia.

39,872 enrolled on this course

A graphic of a face and two pills to symbolise dysphagia

Dysphagia: Swallowing Difficulties and Medicines

39,872 enrolled on this course

  • 6 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

The course offers an opportunity to network with other learners and with the creators of the course through discussions, graphs and social networking features and to share knowledge with other learners and professionals. By completing this online course participants will be able to describe:

  • the swallowing process and different causes of swallowing problems
  • the different types of medicines formulations and how these should be administered to patients
  • how tablets and capsules are designed to ensure that drugs are appropriately distributed in the body
  • special considerations which need to be taken into account when giving medicines to older people and children
  • the law relating to the selection and administration of medicines
  • how best to administer medicines to patients with dysphagia

You can use the hashtag #FLswallowMed to join and contribute to social media conversations about this course.

We look forward to seeing you on the course.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Dysphagia: overview

    • Introduction to the course

      Introduction to the course

      In the first activity this week you will be able to complete four steps; how to use FutureLearn, meet the team behind this course, introduction to the course and welcome to Week 1.

    • Healthcare professional talking to patient

      The swallowing process and causes of swallowing difficulties

      This activity will guide you through the main reasons for dysphagia to develop and the impact on patients' health.

    • Sore throat

      Signs and symptoms of dysphagia

      Dysphagia may involve impairment in any or all phases of the swallowing process affecting the control of the bolus. This activity will guides through the signs and symptoms of this disorder.

    • Taking blood pressure

      Conditions associated with dysphagia

      Aside from dysphagia being a common factor in the ageing process, there are several medical conditions that can also impact on the ability to swallow. This activity will explain more.

    • Healthcare Professionals

      The role of healthcare professionals (HCP) in dysphagia

      A multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and management of dysphagia has been shown to be beneficial for the patients. This section will explain the role of the speech and language therapist in the assessment of dysphagia.

    • Assessment

      End of Week 1

      So, do you want to learn how much you have learnt this week? Let's see how you do in the quiz.

    • Prescribing and dysphagia book

      "Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"

      This book provides more background information for this week in order to consolidate your knowledge and includes diagrams of the different stages of swallowing.

  • Week 2

    Oral formulations and medicines management

    • Advice counter

      Welcome to Week 2

      This week the focus will be on the different oral formulations available and the issues with each one. You will also learn about medicines management issues and the consequences of tampering with oral formulations.

    • Collection of medicines

      Understanding different oral formulations

      You will gain an understanding of the different oral formulations available in this activity.

    • Medicines on pharmacy robot

      How solid dose formulations work

      This activity will describe the potential consequences of formulation tampering.

    • Filling in a form

      Guidelines on the medication management of adults with swallowing difficulties

      A guideline is a statement by which to determine a course of action. This activity will guide you on the management of medication when dysphagia appears.

    • Tampering with medication

      Tampering with medication

      This activity will guide you through the do’s and don’ts of altering medication and how to manage the medication for those who cannot swallow.

    • Assessment

      End of Week 2

      In this activity you will have the opportunity to discuss and explore what you have learnt this week.

    • Prescribing and dysphagia book

      "Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"

      This book provides more background information for this week. Read chapter 2: prescribing for patients with dysphagia and chapter 4: prescribing oral medicines.

  • Week 3

    Medicines law, unlicensed medicines & patients rights

    • Checking a prescription

      Welcome to Week 3

      This week Professor David Wright will go though the underpinning areas of medicines law, unlicensed medicines and summarise what you have learnt.

    • Medicines on shelves

      Dysphagia: prescribing law

      This activity will describe the legal framework surrounding the prescribing process in terms of the Consumer Protection Act and The Human Medicines Regulations 2012

    • Packages containing medicines

      Licensed and unlicensed medicines

      This activity will help you to differentiate between licensed and unlicensed medicines.

    • Hand containing pills

      Patient rights

      In this activity you will explore the patients rights in medication administration

    • Administrators discussing assessment

      End of Week 3

      How much have we learnt this week?

    • Prescribing and dysphagia book

      "Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"

      This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.

  • Week 4

    Medication taking behaviour

    • Mortar and pestle

      Welcome to Week 4

      This week focuses on medication adherence and medication taking behaviour.

    • Healthcare and patient consultation

      Adherence

      This activity will describe the factors which influence patient decisions to take their medicines.

    • Nurse and pharmacist reviewing British National Formulary

      Management of non-adherent behaviour

      Before trying to improve the adherence of medication, try to identify in this activity the causes for that behaviour.

    • Labeling medicine box

      The role of adherence in dysphagia

      This activity will introduce you to some techniques to improve the adherence to treatment.

    • Pharmacist checking computer screen

      End of Week 4

      Take the test in the next step. Do you feel more confident in managing adherence?

    • Prescribing and dysphagia book

      "Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"

      This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.

  • Week 5

    Ageing and dysphagia

    • Taking blood pressure

      Welcome to Week 5

      This week the focus is on the impact of ageing.

    • Elderly man speaking to nurse

      Changes associated with ageing

      In this activity, we will describe briefly the changes that occur in our body as we age.

    • Boxes of medicines

      Management of multiple medicines

      This activity will outlinehow drug and dose selection should be altered for the older person

    • Nurse reviewing computer screen

      End of Week 5

      Take some time know to reflect on what you have learnt this week

    • Prescribing and dysphagia book

      "Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"

      This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.

  • Week 6

    Swallowing difficulties in young age

    • Child drinking cup of medicine

      Welcome to Week 6

      By the end of this week you will be able to identify the key points and factors to consider when prescribing or giving medication to children.

    • Child looking concerned about taking medication

      Managing the medication for the younger person

      By the end of this activity you will be able to describe why a younger person cannot be treated as a small adult with respect to prescribing medicines.

    • Child being given inhaler

      Factors to consider when prescribing to the young population

      Managing the medication for children requires the consideration of many other factors. Follow the videos and discussion to identify some of these concerns.

    • Bottles of medicine and pills

      Considerations when using oral formulations

      When giving medicines to children, there are many factors that need to be considered and it isn't always as easy as just giving a liquid medicine.

    • Pharmacist and shelves of medicines

      End of Week 6

      In this activity you will have the chance to test the knowledge acquired this week. Do you need to revise the previous activities?

    • Prescribing and dysphagia book

      "Prescribing medicines for patients with dysphagia"

      This book provides more background information for this week. See the article step for more details.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the swallowing process and different causes of swallowing problems.
  • Describe the different types of medicines formulations and how these should be administered to patients.
  • Describe how tablets and capsules are designed to ensure that drugs are appropriately distributed in the body.
  • Describe special considerations which need to be taken into account when giving medicines to older people and children.
  • Describe the special considerations which are required to administer medicines via enteral tubes.
  • Describe the law relating to the selection and administration of medicines.
  • Describe how best to administer medicines to patients with dysphagia.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in medicines, the swallowing process, and different causes of swallowing problems

You don’t need any prior experience however, it will be of particular interest to carers, nurses, and those in the field of medicine.

What do people say about this course?

"Thank you- I too have done several FutureLearn courses, I have thoroughly enjoyed this course, it has been extremely beneficial, very informative and useful to my practice. A massive thanks to my fellow learners whose comments I have enjoyed reading and participating in discussions. Well done UEA, this has been well structured, easy to follow and interesting content and I will be keeping an eye out for the next course you run."

"It was good to get a basic grasp of the wide ranging physiological problems which can lead to dysphagia in different age groups. I also found the information about pediatric dysphagia to be very useful."

Who will you learn with?

David Wright

Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia. Research interests include the management of medicines and their administration to patients with dysphagia

Who developed the course?

UEA - University of East Anglia logo

UEA (University of East Anglia)

The University of East Anglia is an internationally renowned university providing top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 15,000 students from over 100 countries around the globe.

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

Rosemont logo

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 26 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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