Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The unit covers selected advanced topics in cardiovascular, blood, thoracic, hepatic, endocrine, bone and joint disorders and is horizontally integerated with SCB708 Pharmacy Practice 5 in terms of the scope and nature of disease states being studied and their associated pharmacotherapies. The administration of pharmacological agents for the management or treatment of pathological conditions requires an authoritative knowledge of both. Therefore the unit is presented by describing the pathological basis of disease. The pharmacotherapeutic basis of treatment is presented by providing current clinical authoritative and critical evidence and the rationale for the use of pharmacological agents. Detailed pharmacological mechanisms of drugs used for the management of disease will be given. An understanding of pharmacological mechanisms will provide a basis for understanding drug interactions and adverse effects.

Aims

The aims of this unit are to:

1. understand the pathological basis of disease in order to understand the rationale and appropriate use of drugs
2. develop advanced knowledge of basic pharmacological principles for the therapeutic application of drugs in selected cardiovascular, blood, thoracic, hepatic, endocrine, bone and joint disorders
3. develop advanced skills for the critical assessment of evidence based pharmacological management of patients
4. critically evaluate the perceived advantages against the risks associated with pharmacological treatment based on evidence.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. have an understanding of the pathological basis of selected cardiovascular, blood, thoracic, hepatic and endocrine disorders.
2. understand the basis upon which drugs are selected and used for the management of disease. Be able to identify and critically interpret authoritative literature.
3. understand the mechanisms through which drugs exert an effect. Use the knowledge of drug mechanisms to predict drug interactions and adverse and toxic effects
4. understand the benefits and risks of administration of drugs.

Content

Pharmacotherapeutics: Evidence based use of pharmacological agents for the management of disease including and understanding of mechanisms of action, adverse drug reactions and drug interactions.

Pathophysiology of Disease: A review of the presentation, symptoms and basis of a selected a range of cardiovascular, blood, thoracic, hepatic, endocrine, bone and joint disorders.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The subject matter will be presented to you as lectures. Tutorials will reinforce and extend lecture material. An assignment will be given which will require students to identify and provide a critical and authoritative evaluation of literature for the purposes of providing appropriate understanding of the pharmacological management of a patient with a selected clinical disorder. The assignment matter will simulate a true life clinical situation. The contact time for this unit will be approximately 45 hours and will be covered in the first 9 weeks of semester.

Assessment

A satisfactory performance (greater than 50%) in all assessment tasks is required to obtain a passing grade for this unit.

In addition to submitting hard copies of your assessment you may be required to electronically submit all written assignments for content matching checks.Feedback will be available on your progress.

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: End of semester theory exam.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Progress theory exam.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5 or 6

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: An in-depth review of a pharmacotherapeutic solution to a clinical scenario related to the topics studied in this unit.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4.
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Assessment name: Viva voce
Description: Oral examination of lecture, assignment and tutorial content.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4.
Weight: 15%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

In general material used for lectures will be referenced to allow students to clarify lecture material and for further reading

Journal articles will be extensively used to provide current information

Australian Medicines Handbook (current edition) AMHTherapeutic Guidelines (current)

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Professional Guidelines, Dispensing Practice Guidelines, 18th edition, Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook Australian Medicines Handbook, AMH Pty, Ltd, Adelaide. Current edition

Reference Texts:

Golan DE et al (2008) Principles of Pharmacology, 2nd edition Wolters Kluwer / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Goodman & Gilman's, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11th edition, McGraw-Hill (available online through QUT)

Clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, 4th edition, by R Walker, Churchill Livingston

DiPiro JT et al (2008) Pharmacotherapy: A pathophysiologic approach, 7th edition, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Pub Division

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus. More information on health and safety can be obtained from http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/healthsafe/index.jsp

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 19-Feb-2013