1999 Pharmacy Handbook - Clinical pharmacy I

Clinical pharmacy I

Introduction
General objectives
Syllabus
Textbooks
Assessment

Introduction

Dr Frederick Mitchelson
A course of 91 hours comprising lectures, tutorials, practical classes and self-directed learning exercises.
The overall aim of the subject is to acquaint students with general principles for the treatment of patients with various diseases or conditions and the role of the pharmacist in areas of health care.

General objectives

In this teaching program students are expected to develop:

understanding of therapeutic regimens and the order of introduction of various treatments in the overall management of a condition. The role of the pharmacist in facilitating the management of a condition;
abilities to integrate basic knowledge on the chemistry and pharmacology of drugs and on therapeutic dose forms in order to apply such knowledge to the clinical setting;
an appreciation of various clnical tests and their significance

Syllabus

Principles of drug therapy in special age groups. Pharmacokinetics and drug therapy in pregnancy. Drug excretion in breast milk. Special aspects of drug therapy in the young and the elderly.
Primary health care. Role of self-care in the health care system. Functions of the pharmacist in primary health care and the response to symptoms.
Principles of treatment of infections and immunological diseases. General approach to the treatment of infections and immunological disease. Application of basic principles. Prophylactic empiric and therapeutic considerations.
Respiratory diseases. Principles of the treatment of various diseases including asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Smoking and lung cancer.
Cardiovascular dieseases. The treatment of selected cardiovascular diseases including hypertension in association with various conditions, ischaemic heart disease and cardiac failure.
Gastrointestinal disease. General approaches to the treatment of alimentary tract disorders and conditions including; oral disorders, teething, peptic ulcer, diarrhoea, constipation, anorectal conditions, disorders of the liver and pancreas.
Nutrition and diet. Nutrition and the good diet, use of vitamins and minerals, role of fibre in nutrition and disease. Infant feeding, food composition and safety. Weight management. Enteral and parenteral nutrition.
Eye and ear disease. Role of the pharmacist in treatment of minor conditions of the eye and ear. Glaucoma. Contact lenses.

Textbooks

Recommended texts

Texts and articles will be advised by individual lecturers and tutors.

Reference books

Di Piro J T and others Pharmacotherapy. A pathophysiologic approach 3rd edn, Appleton and Lange, 1997
Herfindal E T and Gourley D R Textbook of therapeutics: Drugs and disease management 6th edn, Williams and Wilkins, 1996
Speight T M and Holford N H G Avery's drug treatment: A guide to the properties, choice, therapeutic use and economic value of drugs in disease management 4th edn, Adis, 1997
Young L Y and others Applied therapeutics. The clinical use of drugs 6th edn, Applied Therapeutics Inc., 1995

Assessment

Subject assessment will reflect the learning objectives outlined above. Methods of assessment will include:

Assignments: 15%
Mid-year examination (June) (2 hours): 35%
End-of-year examination (3 hours): 50%