Course open
All courses are currently open for individual purchase. Organisations can also buy group packages for all-year round access to the training at reduced rates – see here for details.
Course delivery: entirely online
Study time: 4 hours (or more with optional activities)
Timetable: study at your own pace anytime
Assessment: Self-assessment quizzes & reflection; auto-generated CPD certificate on completion
Cost: £40
Course details
- Individuals: use the ‘buy now’ button above & set up your student account (The ‘username’ you choose will display in learner chat). If your organisation has given you a coupon code this is also how you use that.
- Organisations buying 5+ places can request to to be invoiced instead of staff making individual purchases. See also our year-round packages and reductions for multiple training places:, contact us for details.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- define ‘Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness’ [PDoC]
- outline diagnostic distinctions within the category of PDoC
- critique common confusions between coma, vegetative and minimally conscious states
- list the types of behaviours a patient may demonstrate without this being clear evidence of awareness
- use this knowledge to help avoid misinterpretations about the patient’s state
- describe the changing demographics of PDoC patients and identify some variations in different countries
- reflect on your use of different terminology and engage with debates about the role of modern medicine and how we think about PDoC
- identify where to access relevant UK guidelines.
Note: The course does not equip you with clinical skills to assess consciousness. See specialist hands-on courses for that.
Students on placement: we offer 10 free places for placement students. Email your request to Professor Jenny Kitzinger providing 3 or 4 lines about yourself, your placement and why you’d like to join the course. We also offer free places to families with loved ones in PDoC.