General provisions

This course replaces and corresponds to the course 3FB111 Pharmacotherapy in Self-Treatment.

Entry requirements

For students on the Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy applies that 60 credits should be approved on term 1-2 and gone through all earlier courses on the programme. Eligible to be accepted to single subject course is it one that has at least 60 credits of which passed courses about lowest 30 credits within Pharmaceutical bioscience and/or Pharmacy of which at least 7.5 credits Pharmacokinetics and basic course in physiology and pharmacology or the equivalent knowledge. Equivalent knowledge is tested individually.

Learning outcomes

The student should on completion of the course master the demarcation between self-treatment and healthcare and be able to evaluate advantages and disadvantages with different treatment options both non-prescriptive drugs and plant based drugs, natural remedies and non-pharmacological alternatives.

After examination, the student should be able to:

• identify selected self-treatment indications and explain with given symptoms
• use relevant demarcation and decide thereby if self-treatment is appropriate
• choose and explain appropriate non-prescriptive drug/plant based drug/natural remedy and treatment time to given patient with regard to current recommendations and patient-related factors such as other diseases, age and other drug treatment
• choose and explain appropriate dose, dosage intervals and pharmaceutical form to given patient with regard to patient-related factors and the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity of the drug
• identify, evaluate and remedy common adverse drug reactions and interactions between drug plant based drugs and natural remedies, based on medical history, symptom and drug treatment
• choose appropriate non-pharmacological treatment with regard to the given patient and current recommendations
• for veterinary non-prescriptive drugs explain principles of handling and usage
• for plant based drugs and natural remedies account for their contents of biological active components and indication.
• state the relevant legal aspects that separate drugs, plant based drugs and natural remedies and how these differences are reflected in the patient counselling for each classification
• describe basic communication theory and apply the knowledge in meeting with self-treatment patient

Content

The course includes the role of the drugs, the plant based drugs and the natural remedies in the treatment of the most common self-treatment indications.

The student works with and discusses fictitious patient cases. Work with interactions takes place in the form of a workshop. The students also work with an investigative assignment and creating of own patient cases. Communication training is included in the form of role play with feedback.

The course also gives an insight in how public authorities discuss about self-treatment.

During the course, the student may also train:

• the ability to give feedback on communication technique in groups
• 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, role play and literature studies.

Compulsory parts of the course:

Course introduction, seminars, investigative assignment including presentation, case work, role plays in practical self treatment guidance, 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). A chance to finalise a failed compulsory part can be arranged only at the next course occasion and only in case of a vacancy.

Students who have failed the first examination are allowed five re-examinations.