FARMA3010 Applied Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Course description

The 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 and applied pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics are also important elements of the course.

Listed below are the subjects covered by the course, with credits specified:

• Pharmacology, 12 credits
• Drug analysis, 3 credits

Passed the second year of the programme.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge of applied pharmacology, with emphasis on pharmacogenetics, pharmacokinetics, interactions and individualised follow-up of different patients and population groups at a global level
• has in-depth knowledge of selected areas of therapy relating to the central nervous system (epilepsy, psychiatry), cardiovascular conditions (primary prophylaxis), type 2 diabetes and cancer treatment (cytotoxins, therapy, immunological treatment)
• is capable of explaining pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability and its significance to differences in the effect and side effects of pharmaceuticals
• is capable of explaining the principles of medicine monitoring
• is familiar with the practical application of drug analysis and biochemical markers
• is familiar with the processes involved in clinical trials and systems for medicine monitoring
• has insight into treatment and follow-up of the most common forms of acute pharmaceuticals poisoning 

Skills

The student is capable of

• assessing pharmacological treatment of special patient groups, such as children, young people, pregnant/breastfeeding women and the elderly
• assessing the choice of expedient pharmaceuticals and type of pharmaceutical based on an overall assessment of the patient
• applying knowledge of pharmaceuticals' mechanism of action, effects, side effects and interactions in order to identify and resolve pharmaceutical-related problems at the individual level
• assessing pharmaceutical treatment in selected therapy areas in accordance with applicable therapy guidelines
• identifying pharmaceuticals in biological samples such as blood plasma 
• planning and carrying out a limited project in cooperation with others
• using digital tools and learning resources in his/her own learning process 

General competence

The student is capable of 

• reflecting on pharmaceutical-related challenges in connection with the treatment of patients
• interprofessional cooperation on pharmaceutical treatment with other health science students

Work and teaching methods include lectures, group work, project work, seminars with assignments and seminars focusing on international and English-language literature, laboratory work and practical training visits.

The Flipped Classroom is used as a teaching method for part 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. In addition, digital quizzes and discussion forums can be used.

The students will participate in interprofessional cooperative learning (TPS) together with other health science students. The purpose is to highlight the different health professions' approaches and that they contribute their own expertise to find the correct treatment with and use of pharmaceuticals together.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• a minimum of 80% attendance in group work and laboratory work
• participation at seminars in with oral presentation of project assignments
• participation in interprofessional cooperative learning

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Individual oral exam, up to 30 minutes.

None.

Grade scale A-F

One external and one internal examiner will assess all the candidates.