Sheffield Hallam University launches online course in Enhancing Prostate Cancer Care

Sheffield Hallam University has joined the fight against one of the UK's biggest cancer killers by launching its first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in Enhancing Prostate Cancer Care.

In collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK the MOOC has been designed to give healthcare professionals, patients, carers as well as those with a keen interest in the disease, the chance to expand their expertise and to improve their knowledge of prostate cancer.

More than 40,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year and the University and the charity have developed the five-week programme to cover key areas such as diagnosis, treatment, end-of-life care and survivorship.

The course is open to health professionals, students, patients and carers. It will be delivered in collaboration with e-portfolio system, PebblePad via an online interactive workbook, discussion forums and live webinars with Sheffield Hallam academics, medical specialists and guest speakers provided by Prostate Cancer UK.

Registration is now open for the free course which will start on 13 October 2014. It will be the first time the University has introduced a MOOC to its extensive course offering.

David Eddy, MOOC course leader and principal lecturer in radiotherapy and oncology at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "This is a first for Sheffield Hallam and Prostate Cancer UK. It is designed to support and enable people across the country and outside the UK, to study or improve their knowledge about prostate cancer care.

"Not only will the course support and facilitate learning, it will also provide a forum for healthcare professionals, patients and carers to share information and discuss new ways to improve prostate cancer care.

"The course has been designed and will be delivered by world-class academics from Sheffield Hallam that will provide a high-quality and engaging learning experience in line with our other programmes."

Gemma Borwick, education manager at Prostate Cancer UK said: “Over 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the UK and it’s set to become the most common cancer overall by 2030. As a result, it’s more important than ever that healthcare professionals are equipped with the right knowledge and skills to diagnose, treat and support men through the disease.

“We’re delighted to be working with Sheffield Hallam University on its first MOOC for Enhancing Prostate Cancer Care. It’s a great opportunity for healthcare professionals and students to increase their knowledge of the disease and learn about the latest treatments and support services available to men living with prostate cancer.”

To register for a place on the MOOC visit http://tinyurl.com/epccmooc or contact David Eddy via [email protected] for more information.