Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PHR3108

 
TITLE Pharmacotherapeutics

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Pharmacy

 
DESCRIPTION - Clinical laboratory investigations: renal function tests, liver function tests, serum electrolytes, haematological tests, acid base balance, cardiac enzymes.

- Clinical case studies using common chronic disease states such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, peptic ulcer disease, diabetes mellitus.

- Understanding of clinical case notes: presenting complaint, past medical history, family history, social history, drug history, systemic enquiry, examination, diagnosis, investigations, management plan, progress.

- Familiarisation with format of a pharmacy patient profile: reasons for admission, medical history, drug therapy (previous and current), laboratory investigations, diagnoses and pharmaceutical care issues.

- Case presentation format for oral communication.

- Clinical case studies on the ward: participation in ward round with interdisciplinary health care team, familiarisation with clinical case notes of a selected patient and compilation of pharmacy patient profile, interaction with patient, oral presentation of clinical case study.

Study unit aims:

o to illustrate the application of evidence-based guidelines in the management of common chronic disease states. Particular emphasis is given to the selection of appropriate drug treatment, the balance of benefits to risks for patients under treatment and patient monitoring.
o to enable the student to extract relevant information from clinical case notes and to identify, document and discuss pharmaceutical care issues.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of this study unit, the student will be able to:
o understand standard clinical laboratory investigations and their relevance to monitoring patients receiving drug therapy
o understand the therapeutic strategies in the management of common chronic disease states
o understand the format and content of clinical case notes

2. Skills
By the end of this study unit, the student will be able to:
o apply clinical practice guidelines to optimise drug therapy
o retrieve relevant information from clinical case notes and document it on a pharmacy patient profile
o identify pharmaceutical care issues, recommend action and specify the outcome to be achieved

Main texts:

o Azzopardi L. Lecture notes in pharmacy practice. 2010. London: Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN 978 0 85369 766 4
o Cipolle RJ, Strand LM, Morley PC. Pharmaceutical care practice. 2004. USA: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0 07 136259 2
o Dodds L. Drugs in use. 2009. London: Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN 978 0 85369 791 6
o Greene RJ, Harris N. Pathology and therapeutics for pharmacists. 2008. London: Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN 978 0 85369 690 2
o Joint Formulary Committee. British national formulary. Latest edition. London: Pharmaceutical Press.
o Koda-Kimble MA, Young LY, Kradjan WA et al. Handbook of applied therapeutics. 2006. USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978 0 781790 260
o Walker R, Whittlesea C. Clinical pharmacy and therapeutics. 2007. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 978 0 443 10285 1
o Wright J, Gray A. Clinical pharmacy pocket companion. 2006. London: Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN 978 0 85369 955 2

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in the Case Study component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Tutorial and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Case Study (Take Home) [See Add. Notes] SEM2 No 20%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Marise Gauci
Lilian Wismayer

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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