PHR2041 - Comprehensive Care: Respiratory and Gastrointestinal - 2019

This unit provides the knowledge and skills required for the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients with respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions. Specifically, the unit will cover respiratory diseases and disorders/conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the common cold, and gastrointestinal diseases and disorders/conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. This unit will relate the pathophysiology and epidemiology of these conditions with the rational design and clinical use of medicines. The chemistry, pharmacology, disposition, and clinical and therapeutic aspects of medicines associated with each condition are presented in an integrated fashion. This unit will involve the development of pharmacy relevant skills such as critical thinking and oral and written communication skills. Drug therapy principles for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions will be emphasised, enabling students to acquire the skills necessary to optimise patient outcomes in different cultural and clinical settings.

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe how the structure and function of respiratory and gastrointestinal systems are affected by disease.
2. Describe the epidemiology and clinical aspects of the management for respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, including primary and secondary prevention strategies.
3. Describe the signs and symptoms, and diagnostic methods relevant to respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.
4. Explain the chemistry and pharmacological mechanism of action of drugs used in treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, upper respiratory conditions, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome and predict how this leads to the treatment of disease and possible side effects.
5. List and prioritise drug and non-drug therapy options for the management of respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.
6. Evaluate a patient's respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions and create a complete, patient-specific care plan which applies established clinical guidelines and a comprehensive clinical review of potential drug-related problems.
7. Evaluate and justify when referral for medical assessment is required, with a particular emphasis on symptoms is indicative of referral.
8. Apply counselling strategies that provide support and optimise behavioural change for patients with respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.
9. Using a multidisciplinary healthcare team approach, develop and implement appropriate clinical and communication strategies to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.

Final examination 50%; in-semester assessment 50%

• Seventy-two hours of independent study
• Twenty-four hours of pre-learning activities (up to 4 hours per week for 6 weeks)
• Twenty-four hours of active learning lectures (4 hours per week for 6 weeks)
• Twenty-four hours of small group classes including assessment (4 hours per week for up to 6 weeks)
• One 2-hour written examination

See also Unit timetable information

https://www.intranet.monash/pharm/students/undergrad/courses/bpharm