Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) elearning

It is estimated that over 250,000 people in the UK are living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Despite these figures, there are still many misconceptions around ME/CFS, and the patients suffer from prolonged diagnosis and stigma.

This elearning programme has been developed in collaboration with patient groups and the Department of Health and Social Care as a resource for all healthcare practitioners looking to enhance their knowledge and support for individuals living with ME/CFS.

It aims to:

highlight the variability in patient experiences and the impact on individuals and their families
encourage the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care
highlight the importance of pacing, symptom management, and supportive networks                                                    

Introduction to ME/CFS: this session is accessible to all and aims to provide an introduction to the complex nature of ME/CFS. The session explains what ME/CFS is, discusses the potential causes and diagnostic challenges and provides an overview of possible management strategies.

The second session called ME/CFS: guidance for community-based healthcare practitioners aims to inform and empower community-based healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively diagnose, manage, and support patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The third session aims to provide healthcare practitioners with guidance on supporting individuals with severe or very severe ME/CFS. It is aimed at supporting patients especially in the four key areas; care in the community, nutritional support and risk management, managing risk in hospital care and pharmaceutical support. The session has limited access to only people working in health care, the government or academia due to the nature of the content.