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

There is an increasing need for the use of medicines by endorsed Podiatrists for the treatment, management and rehabilitation of patients with foot pathologies including those secondary to peripheral vascular disease, diabetes and arthropathies. This unit will enhance your understanding of the pharmacology and the therapeutic use of the medicines administered and prescribed for the treatment of the disease states encountered in the scope of your professional podiatry practice in Australia. Selection of drugs and discussion of their therapeutic use by Podiatrists is based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Podiatry Board of Australia, particularly Appendix B: List of Scheduled Medicines Approved by the Podiatry Board of Australia. Additionally, you will be introduced to resources available in Australia guiding you towards the appropriate selection and use of these medicines, including clinical trials and recognised clinical guidelines e.g. the Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Monthly Index of Medical Specialties better known as MIMS, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Critical assessment of such resources is essential for the practice of Quality Use of Medicines.

Aims

1. Provide an in-depth knowledge of the pharmacotherapeutics of drugs used by Podiatrists in their professional practice.

2. Review the design and use of clinical drug trials that are used for measuring the efficacy and safety of drugs and provide the evidence base for their appropriate selection

3. Provide instruction on the use of clinical guidelines sanctioned by the Podiatry Board of Australia that recommend the appropriate selection and use of medicines.

4. Establish an appreciation of the National Strategy for the Quality Use of Medicines.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you will be expected to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacology and the therapeutic use of drugs applied by Podiatrists based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Podiatry Board of Australia. Be able to understand how such knowledge is applied in your clinical practice particularly with respect to the appropriate selection of pharmacotherapies and how to avoid or manage recognised interactions of medicines in patients.

2. Critically review the design and outcome of clinical trials including the analysis and assessment of associated data with respect to the efficacy and safety of drugs.

3. Competently use apposite resources that provide evidence for and recommend the appropriate selection and use of medicines.

4. Demonstrate an appreciation of the principles of Quality Use of Medicines.

Content

Building a theoretical foundation for professional podiatry practice in pharmacology/pharmacotherapeutics based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Podiatry Board of Australia: The mechanisms of action, contraindications, adverse effects and interactions of the drug classes used by podiatrists in diagnosis, treatment, management and rehabilitation of podiatric conditions including:
- Antibacterial drugs
- Anti-fungal drugs
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Analgesic drugs
- Local anaesthetics
- Drugs to treat acute hypersensitivity reactions
- Anxiolytic drugs

Understanding and practice of evidence based medicine: Principles of evidenced based medicine that provide the rationale for the appropriate selection and use of medicines in conjunction with the principles of pathology and pharmacology; design and analysis of clinical trials that measure the efficacy and safety of drugs.

Appreciation of the principles of the national strategy for the quality use of medicines: Implications of the national medicines policy and therapeutic goods regulation for the quality use of drugs in podiatry practice.

Skills for professional development/Resources: Use of apposite primary and secondary resources including databases and websites such as the Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS), and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Application of professional guidelines and other resources in clinical scenarios focussing on drug treatment and management of podiatric conditions.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The teaching content of this unit will be presented as lectures (2 hours/week). Practical session (2 hour/ week) will provide a forum to perform problem-solving exercises based on podiatric clinical scenarios including group presentations.

Assessment

A satisfactory performance (i.e. achievement is greater than 50%) in all summative assessment tasks is mandatory for successful completion of 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.Continuous feedback is provided in tutorials.

Assessment name: Critique (written)
Description: Evaluation of clinical drug trials in written form. The evaluation will focus on the evidence provided for the use of drugs in the treatment of specific diseases or conditions. This is a group assessment.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3 & 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: During Semester

Assessment name: Viva voce
Description: Individual students will present pharmacotherapeutic case scenarios in an oral examination.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: During Semester

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: Answering of multiple choice and short answer questions under invigilated conditions. There are two theory exams throughout the semester. There is a Mid-semester theory exam. Formative and summative. Weighting 20%. There is also an End of semester theory exam. Summative. Weighting 40%
Relates to objectives: 1 & 4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid and End Semester

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

The following textbooks and websites may be used in this unit.
Note: All resources are available through QUT Library

Textbooks:
1. DiPiro et al., Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiological Approach; current edition, New York; McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division

2. Golan et al., Principles of Pharmacology. The Pathophysiological Basis of Drug Therapy; current Edition, Philadelphia; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

3. Rang et al., Pharmacology; current Edition, Churchill Livingstone

Databases and Websites:
The following databases are accessible via QUT Library http://www.library.qut.edu.au

Follow this string starting at the QUT Home page:
QUT Library -> Go to Databases Page -> Select a subject: Science & Technology -> Pharmacy -> Select the database of your choice

1. Therapeutic Guidelines (Current Edition), Melbourne, VIC; Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd, (electronic version available through QUT Library Databases website or directly at http://www.tg.com.au. Essential titles for podiatry: Antibiotic, Analgesic, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Toxicology and Dental.

2. Australian Medicines Handbook (Current Edition), Adelaide, SA; AMH Pty Ltd (electronic version available through QUT Library Databases website or directly at http://www.amh.net.au

3. MIMS (Current Edition), Sydney, NSW, MIMS Australia and UBM Media Pty Ltd (electronic version available through QUT Library Databases website or directly at http://www.mims.com.au

4. Therapeutic Goods Administration (website only): http://www.tga.gov.au/index.htm


Further resources are listed in the Guidelines for Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines by the Podiatry Board of Australia available at http://www.podiatryboard.gov.au/

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.

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: 28-Feb-2013