MBIB5900 Master Thesis Course description

The course is mandatory for all students.

The language of the course is Norwegian.

See under Study progress in the programme description.

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

Knowledge

The student

• is familiar with relevant theory and research in the area that the thesis concerns

Skills

The student

• is capable of using relevant methods in report work and evaluations
• is capable of evaluating the use of methods in and results of studies and evaluations

General competence

The student

• is capable of carrying out a delimited research or development work under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethics standards
• is capable of communicating about relevant issues, analyses and conclusions both in written form and orally

Language of instruction: Norwegian

The pharmacology course deals with drugs’ mechanisms of action and effects on the body (pharmacodynamics) and with what happens to a drug from when it enters the body until it has left it (pharmacokinetics). The course covers the most important groups of pharmaceuticals, including contrast agents used for diagnostic imaging examinations and treatment, the administration of drugs, including calculations, management and documentation, as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Passed first year of the programme or equivalent. RAB1050 is exempt from the progression requirement.

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

• explain different forms of medication, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• refer to relevant legislation and regulations for medication management, including guidelines for documentation, handling of non-conformities and disposal
• describe important drugs in relation to diagnostic imaging and treatment
• describe the key concepts in drug calculations

Skills

The student can

• carry out independent and faultless calculations of drug dosages, quantities and strengths for different routes of administration
• use international standards and systems of units in drug calculations
• calculate injection and infusion rates (drops/min and ml/hr)
• assess and check both their own and other people's calculations

General competence

The student can

• provide accurate medication information to healthcare professionals, patients, and next of kin, as well as identify risk factors associated with the use of contrast agents and other relevant medications.

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. The methods used are lectures, group work, role play and exercises, and self-study.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam part 1: Drug calculation:

• an individual written drug calculation test in accordance with set criteria

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam part 2: Pharmacology:

• a minimum attendance of 80% at scheduled seminars and skills training sessions

Individual home examination over three days. Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10%).

If the course is taught in English, students can also choose to write/conduct the examination in a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish).

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.