Assessment and optimisation of health trajectories in childhood

Topics covered will include:

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease:

• Life course epidemiology and the early life origins of health and disease
• Basic principles of genetic regulation of growth and how genetic factors may predispose individual for later life disorders such as obesity.
• The development of cognitive and social functioning

Growth & Development:

• Endocrine and non-endocrine control of growth
• Key developmental milestones and their variation within and outside of the normal range

Nutrition:

• Normal mainstream feeding advice and the effect on child nutrition and behaviour
• The modern obesity epidemic
• A perspective from resource poor settings 
• Endocrine influences on the control of growth
• The disease preventing effects of breastfeeding

Sleep:

• Sleep physiology in health and disease
• Developmental changes in sleep with age
• Sleep-related pathology & risk factors
• Subjective and objective assessments of sleep health
• Introduction to therapeutic interventions (medical and surgical

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

1. Formulate clinical decisions that promote optimal health trajectories, supported by science and evidence, in health and disease in children
2. Analyse origins and formulate possible solutions of nutritional problems with current public health impact on the paediatric population
3. Consider critically the value of normal sleep across childhood and contrast this with the damage caused by common respiratory and non-respiratory sleep problems
4. Propose an investigation and management strategy for a paediatric sleep problem

The course runs online over 5 consecutive weeks, and you are expected to conduct approximately 7 to 10 hours of self-directed study per week, depending on your pace of learning. This consists of weekly directed tasks that you can undertake at your own pace and timing, such as watching recorded lectures, assigned reading or reflection and forum work, but also may consist of group work online. There are also planned live online sessions during the course to discuss ideas, present group, and individual work and to facilitate further learning.

Evidence of sufficient participation will be required to obtain a course certificate.

The course consists of several synchronous sessions on a video-conferencing platform (UK times)*:

• Friday, 14 March 2025: 9.00 - 10.00am
• Friday, 21 March 2025: 9.00 - 10.30am
• Friday, 2 May 2025: 9.00 - 10.30am (tbc)
• Friday, 9 May 2025: 9.00 - 10.00am (tbc)
• Friday, 16 May 2025: 9.00 - 11.00am (tbc)

* Dates and times may be subject to change.

A full timetable and access to course materials will be made available to registered participants prior to the start of the course.

Who should attend?
This course will benefit paediatricians, GPs, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals involved in Child Health.

As the course is a multi-professional programme, students will develop an understanding of how their own individual behaviours, and those of the teams within which they work, can have a significant influence on the quality of care delivered.

This course is not formally assessed for short course students.

However, feedback will be provided for any submitted activities such as participation and contribution to group work and interactive sessions including a workshop within the course.

Optional assessment
Participants have the option of completing an assessment component and on completion will be provided with an official Imperial College London transcript of results. Credits accrued (within two years of transcript date) can be utilised towards the PG Certificate in 'Applied Paediatrics', should they wish to undertake further study with Imperial College.

Details of the assessment and deadline for submission will be given during the course. Please note that there is an additional assessment fee payable in full prior to submission date. Please contact us for further information.