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FutureLearn

Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Understanding Inherited High Cholesterol

NHS England via FutureLearn

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Overview

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Understand and manage familial hypercholesterolemia for future generations

Unlock the key to understanding and managing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited condition causing high cholesterol levels. This online course equips you with essential skills to identify, diagnose, and support patients with FH.

Understand the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia and clinical criteria

On the first two weeks of this course, you’ll delve into the physiology of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and understand the clinical criteria for identifying this condition.

You’ll discover why FH is considered a significant health priority and learn how healthcare professionals play a crucial role in managing this genetic disorder.

Learn the critical role of family history in diagnosing familial hypercholesterolemia

By the second half of this course, you’ll consider family history as a diagnostic tool for FH. You’ll do so by exploring methods to collect pertinent family history information and practise the skill of drawing a family tree.

You’ll understand how family history can reveal risks and aid in managing familial hypercholesterolemia effectively.

You’ll wrap up this course by discussing the principles of consent during genomic testing consultations for FH. You’ll promote ethical practices by learning how to document genomic conversations accurately and ensure patients are well-informed about testing options.

By completing this course, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of familial hypercholesterolemia to become a key player in the management of patient interventions for FH.

The course was created with support from Northumbria University and Wessex FH Service (Central & South GMSA).

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals involved in the identification and care of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, including those in cardiac services, lipid services, primary care, and genetic counselling roles.

Syllabus

  • Physiology of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) & the clinical criteria for the condition.
    • Introduction to Week 1
    • How the NHS is supporting this priority
    • What is FH?
    • NICE recommendations for treatment of FH
    • Key learning points and preparation for Week 2
  • Introducing Genomics: FH Families and Genetics
    • Introduction to Week 2
    • What is genomics?
    • Summary of FH genes
    • Family History and Risk Assessment
    • How is a genetic test done?
    • Reflection and preparation for Week 3
  • The importance of family history in identifying FH.
    • Introduction to Week 3
    • What is a genetic family history?
    • How to draw a family history
    • Reading and interpreting a family tree
    • Knowledge and skills required
  • The principles of consent when discussing genomic testing.
    • Introduction to this week's activities
    • The principles of informed consent
    • The principles of consent as applied to genomic testing
    • The genomic conversation
    • What comes next?
  • Implications/impact of a genomic report for FH.
    • Introduction to Week 5 and learning outcomes
    • Genetic test results and their implications
    • Cascade testing of relatives
    • Practice implications of cascade testing
    • Reflections and preparations for Week 6
  • The role of cascade testing and support required.
    • Introduction to Week 6 - your final week!
    • Cascade testing and what this means for patients and healthcare professionals
    • The role of the healthcare professional
    • The fundamentals of FH post-course quiz
    • Summary and next steps

Taught by

deborah leetham

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