FARB3000 Applied Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Course description

This course focuses on the field of clinical pharmacology/pharmacotherapy, and also covers patient and practice-related knowledge. The goal is to contribute to a more holistic understanding of patient-oriented treatment in important therapeutic areas such as neurology, psychiatry, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and cancer. Another key aspect is individualising and follow-up of therapy for different groups of patients and different age groups. Medicine monitoring, patient safety, pharmacogenetics and applied pharmacokinetics and are also important elements of the course.

Passed first and second year of the programme or equivalent 

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the significance of pharmacogenetics for individualised treatment and follow up of different patient groups
• can give an account of the mechanisms for and management of drug interactions
• can assess pharmaceutical treatment in selected therapy areas in accordance with applicable therapy guidelines
• can explain pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability and its significance to the effects and side effects of pharmaceuticals
• can explain the principles for the use of medicine monitoring and biochemical variables in individualised treatment
• can explain mechanisms, symptoms, prevention and treatment of the most common forms of acute medicinal poisoning

Skills

The student

• can assess pharmacological treatment and follow-up of special patient groups, such as children, young people, pregnant or breastfeeding women and the elderly
• can identify expedient pharmaceuticals and types of medicine based on an overall assessment of the patient
• can apply knowledge of pharmaceuticals’ mechanism of action, effects, side effects and interactions in order to identify and resolve medicine-related problems at the individual level
• can assess treatment and follow-up in selected therapy areas such as epilepsy, psychiatry, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer  
• can plan and carry out a limited project in cooperation with other students to resolve issues related to pharmaceuticals
• can use digital tools and learning resources in his/her own learning process

General competence

The student

• can reflect on pharmaceutical-related challenges in connection with the treatment of patients

Subjects covered by the course, with credits specified:

• Pharmacology 10 credits

Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars and project work in groups.  The teaching methods flipped classroom and team-based learning (TBL) are used for parts of the course. Digital learning resources will be made available to students in advance, and the time they spend at the university will be used to work on assignments and group work.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Minimum attendance of 80% at seminars with presentation of project assignments

Individual oral exam, up to 30 minutes

No aids are permitted.

Grade scale A-F

All exams are assessed by an internal and an external examiner.

• 10 credits overlap with the course FARMA3010 Applied Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy