Allergic Airways Diseases

Module overview

It is well established that there is "cross talk" between the upper and lower airways, so this integrated module will deal with the entire respiratory system. Normal physiology and anatomy will be taught, along with the diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and psychology of disease. Generic aspects of airways disease such as epidemiology and quality of life issues will also be explored. Throughout the module, you will explore topics by interpreting clinical scenarios to reinforce your learning.

Sessions will include the mechanisms of inflammation and remodelling, guidelines for management and assessment of allergic airways disease. Upper airways sessions on rhinitis, sinus disease and polyposis will cover the mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment (including surgery). Immunotherapy will also be explored. Lower respiratory sessions will include asthma and small airways disease, as well as associated differential diagnoses (e.g. cystic fibrosis) and the role of viruses and bacteria in exacerbating allergic airways diseases. Sessions exploring the heterogeneity of these diseases and how this affects disease management are also covered. This module comprehensively covers both paediatric and adult disease.

Our online module is delivered using a blend of live teaching and pre-recorded sessions. You are expected to attend all live sessions which allows you to engage with our expert teachers and your fellow students and benefit from rich discussions. Our recorded sessions allow you to learn at your convenience within each teaching week. Most of our students continue to work while studying and benefit from this flexibility. Engaging with our blended learning each teaching week allows you to build on and synthesise your learning as you go.

This module is taught once a year and typically involves approximately 10 hours of student engagement per week. The module will take place during the following weeks (exact timetable to be confirmed):

Teaching & guided learning: 18/10-06/12/23
Self-directed learning: 07/12-24/01/24

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This online module is a blend of live and recorded sessions providing a flexible learning environment that gives you control over your studies. You should plan your time so that you can attend our live teaching and make the most of being able to take part in rich discussions and interact with the teaching staff and your fellow students.

A variety of online learning and teaching methods will be adopted to promote the development of a wide range of skills. Specialist lecturers from a range of academic and health care professional backgrounds will ensure a breadth and depth of perspective is offered, giving a good balance between background theories, principles and practical management options. In addition, by sharing their experience of living with allergy, patients will give an insight into their perspective, enabling you to develop your patient-centred approach.

As well as the formal live teaching and recorded sessions, we offer group online tutorials to support your learning. Students are encouraged to raise aspects from the module that they would like to be covered in these sessions, which are recorded and made available on Blackboard for those unable to attend the live online sessions. There is also a guided immunology e-learning package with self-assessment available for you to take advantage of in your own time.

Study time
Type	Hours
Teaching	47
Tutorial	3
Independent Study	150
Total study time	200

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

4. Useful Journals:. These include: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice Clinical and Experimental Allergy Allergy Thorax European Respiratory Journal American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Rhinology Journal of Laryngology and Otolaryngology Lancet Respiratory Medicine

2. e-Books:. There are many e-books available from the University of Southampton library in both allergy and related academic subjects (e.g. reflection, study skills, communication skills). Access the online site: https://www-lib.soton.ac.uk/.

1. Talis reading list:. All this module's resources can be found in our online reading list which you can access from the module’s Blackboard site.

Internet Resources

BTS/SIGN guidelines for the management of asthma.

GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) Difficult-to-treat and severe asthma. Short guide .

GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) guidelines.

ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) Guidelines.

Journal Articles

Fokkens WJ, et al. (2020). European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps . Rhinology.

Textbooks

Holgate, Church, Broide and Martinez (2011). Allergy.. London: Elsevier (available as e-book from our library).

Albert RK, Spiro S, Jett JR. (2008). Clinical Respiratory Medicine. London: Mosby (available as e-book from our library).

Spiro SG, Silvestri GA, Agusti (2012). Clinical Respiratory Medicine. London: Elsevier.

Rich, Fleisher et al (2019). Middleton's allergy essentials. Elsevier (available as e-book from our library).

Assessment

Assessment strategy

The assessment for the module provides you with the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes by demonstrating the depth and breadth of your knowledge of allergic airways disease, and your ability to apply this in clinical contexts. There is one assessed component which is based on a clinical case and includes integrated elements relevant to clinical practice. The pass mark for the module is 50%.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assessment	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Assessment	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External