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 and7or Pharmaceutical science 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 Herbal Medicinal Products, Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products, 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 justify appropriate non-prescriptive drug/Herbal Medicinal Product/Traditional Herbal Medicinal Product/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 adverse drug reactions and interactions between drugs and Herbal Medicinal Products, Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products and Natural Remedies respectively, 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 Herbal Medicinal Products, Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products and Natural Remedies account for their contents of biological active components and indication.
• state the relevant legal aspects that separate drugs,Herbal Medicinal Products, Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products and Natural Remedies and how these differences are reflected in the patient counselling for each classification
• describe basic communication theory and apply the knowledge with an empathetic and professional approach in meeting with self-treatment patient
• discuss human rights with other professions
• reflect on response and treatment from a human rights perspective

Content

The course includes the role of the drugs, Herbal Medicinal Products, Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products and Natural Remedies in the treatment of the most common self-treatment indications.

The students work with and discuss fictitious patient cases. They create and discuss own patient cases. Additional focus is also placed on working with interactions. 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, role play and literature studies.

Compulsory parts of the course:

Seminars, case work, role plays in practical self treatment guidance, exam follow-up and interprofessional learning (IPL).

Assessment

Examination takes place at the end of the course. For a passing grade the student must pass the examination (4,5 credits) and all portions of the course that are obligatory (4,5 credits). A chance to finalise a failed compulsory part can be arranged only at the next course occasion and only in case of a vacancy.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

This course replaces and corresponds to 3FB111 or 3FB400, Pharmacotherapy in Self-Treatment.