Understanding cardiovascular diseases
On this page
This course provides an introductory overview of the diseases of the heart and circulation, and the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. You’ll study risk factors and patterns and methods of prevention of these diseases in a global context. The course text, case studies, and multimedia illustrate the characteristic symptoms and pathology of peripheral vascular and coronary heart disease; their diagnosis using a variety of techniques; and subsequent medical, surgical and lifestyle management. The course will appeal to patients, health care workers, people working in professions allied to medicine, and those with a general interest in the subject.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | SK121 |
| Credits | 15 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 5 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
| Start | End | Fee | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
No current presentation - see Future availability |
| This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2014. | |||
What you will study
The course will:
- introduce the different major types of cardiovascular disease and underlying risk factors
- describe the cardiovascular system and how it functions normally
- outline the patterns of cardiovascular disease, and the ways in which genetic factors combine with environmental and lifestyle factors to affect risk in different groups of people
- describe how cardiovascular disease can be prevented, both in individuals and whole populations
- outline the pathological processes that occur in vascular disease and show how understanding these processes can lead to effective treatment
- describe what occurs during a heart attack and in the recovery period
- examine the types of investigations that can be carried out to assess the damage that has been caused by a heart attack and any underlying cardiovascular disease
- look at the options for medical management of different types of cardiovascular disease, and relate these options to the diagnostic investigations and the pathology
- describe the types of surgical intervention that may be performed for different conditions
- outline how patients can be rehabilitated following a heart attack, and adapt their lifestyle to slow further disease progression and reduce the likelihood of subsequent attacks.
The course integrates multimedia and text to show how the heart functions in normal conditions and what can occur when things go wrong. Relevant video sequences on DVD are used to show what happens during, for example, cardiac emergencies, and how medical teams diagnose and manage heart attacks. Case studies of different people are incorporated throughout the text, in order to convey the experience of the individual patient. These clinical case studies are used to link the medical aspects of patient care to the underlying science.
Entry
You are not expected to have any knowledge of cardiovascular diseases, but you should be able to read and understand written English of a style and complexity characteristic of a professional magazine or quality newspaper. If you have not studied up to GCSE level fairly recently, you should expect to spend longer on the study materials.
It is essential that you establish whether or not your background and experience give you a sound basis on which to tackle the course, since students who are appropriately prepared have the best chance of completing their studies successfully. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you to progress to courses at Level 2.
The package Are you ready for science study? offers an interactive quiz to help you decide whether you already have the recommended background knowledge or experience to start the course or whether you should consider first studying an Openings course.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
The course focuses on the person with cardiovascular disease in the context of the UK National Health Service and includes, where necessary, references to the treatment plans and diagnostic tests used in the UK. Although the provision of services for cardiovascular treatment and education is likely to differ outside the UK, the course makes references to global issues and ethnic and class differences in the incidence of disease.
Preparatory work
We suggest that students who have not studied formally for some time consider taking an Openings course, such as Understanding health (Y178), before starting SK121. If you do not already have the necessary computing and internet skills, we recommend you study sections three and four of the SAFARI materials, provided by the OU Library, before you begin your study of SK121. As an alternative you may wish to take one of the many courses available at your local night school or college.
If you particularly wish to improve your study skills you’re strongly advised to read The Sciences Good Study Guide (1997) by A. Northedge, J. Thomas, A. Lane and A. Peasgood, ISBN: 9780749234119 which can be purchased from www.ouw.co.uk. Further advice is available from the Learning with the OU website.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
If you have severely impaired sight or manual dexterity you may find using the web and the multimedia resources challenging. All electronic or multimedia aspects of the study materials are accessible, allowing navigation through the use of keyboard and short cut keys. The printed study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) as screen readable eBooks. Some components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting your needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
A course book and other printed materials, a DVD-ROM, a website and online forum facilities.
You will need
You will need a simple calculator.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
You can email a study adviser, who will be able to help you with academic questions to do with the course and the assessment. There are also online discussion forums that you can use to get in touch with study advisers and other students.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
The interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) are at roughly three week intervals throughout the course. The end-of-module assessment (EMA) must be submitted online. There will also be some formative exercises to enable you to practice similar questions and monitor your progress throughout the course.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | SK121 |
| Credits | 15 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 5 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
Really enjoyed the course. Felt the overall way it was organised was much better than the previous course I completed ...
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As a 40 year old guy with congenital heart problems and a lifelong fascination with cardiology, I couldn’t believe my ...
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Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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