General provisions

This course replace and corresponds to the course 3FB070 Advanced pharmacotherapy. 1.5 credits (hp) correspond to 1 credit point (p) according to previous study regulation.

Entry requirements

For students on the Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy applies that 60 credits should be approved from term 1-3 and gone through all earlier courses on the programme. The student should also have passed results of basic courses within the following subjects: physiology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapy.

For students on the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy applies that 150 credits should be approved from term 1-6 and followed earlier courses within the programme. The student should also have passed results of basic courses within the following subjects: physiology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics (7.5 credits) and pharmacotherapy.

Qualified to single subject course is the one that has 150 credits, passed courses about lowest 40 credit points/60 credits within Pharmaceutical bioscience and/or Pharmacy, of which at least 7.5 credits pharmacokinetics B and 7.5 credits pharmacotherapy B and basic course in physiology and pharmacology or the equivalent knowledge. Equivalent knowledge is tested individually. Knowledge in Swedish and English equivalent to what is required for basic eligibility to Swedish higher education on basic level.

Learning outcomes

The student should on completion of the course independently be able to assess and evaluate a complex pharmacotherapy from the patient's individual prerequisites and the specific properties of the drugs.

After examination, the student should be able to:

- identify selected diseases based on knowledge of pathology and motivate with given symptoms and laboratory values

- state investigations that are of value for the diagnosis and monitoring of drug therapy in selected disease areas

- choose and justify appropriate drug and treatment duration to a given patient with regard to current recommendations and patient-related factors such as other diseases, age, organ functions and other drug treatment

- choose and justify appropriate dose, dosing interval and pharmaceutical form for a given patient with regard to age, organ functions and drug pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity

- evaluate abnormalities in common laboratory values and explain related to physiology, drug treatment and / or disease

- extract information from medical records

- identify, evaluate and respond to basic drug-related problems from patient records and to motivate action

- choose appropriate non-pharmacological treatment with regard to the given patient and current recommendations

Content

The course focuses on pharmacotherapy in in patient care. The student works with, design and discuss lifelike patient cases where medical history, symptoms and laboratory values are stated. The students also work with drug-related problems through role play around fictitious patients and make an individual assignment where they deepen their knowledge of laboratory values.

During the course, the student may also train:

- the ability to communicate with patients

- the ability to search, sort, critically review and pass on drug-related information

- oral presentation, in groups

- decision making

- independent thinking

- work in groups

Instruction

Teaching is given in the form of lectures, group discussions, seminars, workshop, individual investigative assignment and individual studies of literature. Problem-based learning is included as working method.

Compulsory parts of the course:

Course introduction, group meetings, seminars, individual investigative assignment, workshop on drug related problems and exam follow-up.

Assessment

Examination takes place at the end of the course. For a passing grade the student must pass the examination (examination code) and all portions of the course that are obligatory (examination code). Obligatory portions of the course may be completed or re-taken when the same course is offered again if, and only if, the course is not full. Students who have failed the first examination are allowed five re-examinations.