Entry requirements

The general rules laid down by the Curriculum Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy apply (see programme curriculum).

Aims

The course aims to give the student scientifically based knowledge concerning self-treatment with drugs and natural remedies. The course also aims to teach the student to think for him- or herself and reach decisions independently. The students are trained in seeking, compiling, evaluating and communicating information.

Content

The course describes the role of drugs and natural remedies in the treatment of the most common self-treatment indications. The course is based on realistic situations, mainly patient cases. The students are trained to decide from the history and symptoms whether or not self-treatment is appropriate in the individual case and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options and combinations of treatment. The course describes natural remedies and their place in the treatment and legal aspects of the choice between natural remedies and drugs and the importance of strict quality control. The course also gives the student a knowledge of drug interactions, including interactions with natural remedies. The course also gives the student insight into how pharmaceutical companies and the authorities view self-treatment in a broader perspective.

Instruction

The tuition comprises lectures, group discussions, seminars and private literature study.

Assessment

Written examinations are held at the end of the course. Students are required to pass the written examination (examination code) and compulsory parts of the course (examination code). Repetition of compulsory parts of the course may be done in connection with the next course at the earliest and then only if there is a vacancy.