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Unit Overview

Description

This unit provides detailed attention to the pharmacology of drugs used to treat major disease states as well as various factors that complicate the use of medicines in patients.

It also expands on the concepts and practical application of pharmacokinetics, which was first introduced to students in PHCY5602 Integrated Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice 1.

The pharmacology content is presented in an integrated manner with the concurrent pharmacotherapy unit PHCY5612. It accordingly provides a suitable level of insight into the mechanism of action and therapeutic rationale underlying the use of particular medicines in the management of specific disease states.

Additional key topics include drug-drug interactions; drug-gene interactions (pharmacogenomics); impact of organ diseases on drug responses; therapeutic drug monitoring; laboratory testing and monitoring of drug-related disease responses; clinical case studies and pharmacokinetics of specific drugs.

Use of clinically-oriented problems and case studies will help students apply principles of pharmacology to real-world examples in preparation for hospital placements while also helping them achieve the unit's learning objectives.

Credit
6 points
Offering
(see Timetable)
AvailabilityLocationMode
Non-standard teaching periodUWA (Perth)Face to face
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe the mechanism of action, pharmacological effects, pharmacokinetic properties, therapeutic uses, contraindications, adverse effects, pharmacogenetics and clinically significant drug interactions of the principal drugs and drug classes used to treat various conditions; (2) use knowledge of pharmacological principles and major disease states to make clinical decisions about patient care; (3) explain how interference with absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination can lead to clinically important drug interactions and predict potential drug interactions from a working knowledge of their primary clearance pathway; (4) discuss the principles of pharmacokinetics in special populations (such as paediatrics, elderly or obese patients); (5) process plasma concentration versus time data and derive quantitative estimates of key pharmacokinetic properties of medicines that guide their safe and effective use in patient subgroups; (6) demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts in toxicology that apply to drug-induced harm; and (7) interpret common laboratory test results and apply these to clinical scenarios.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) ongoing assessments; (2) oral assessment; and (3) written examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Associate Professor Philip Burcham
Unit rules
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
51500 Master of Pharmacy
and Successful completion of
PHCY5602 Integrated Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice 1
Co-requisites
PHCY5612 Integrated Therapeutics and Pharmacy Practice
Contact hours
Lectures and workshop: 4 hours per week
tutorials: 2 hours per week
Texts

Required texts
1. Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook. Current edition. PSA.
2. Australian Medicines Handbook. Current edition. PSA.

Recommended texts
Chen, T et al. Case Studies in Practice - Medication Review: A Process Guide for Pharmacists. Current edition. PSA.

Chen, T et al. Case Studies in Practice. Pharmacist only and pharmacy medicines: a process guide for pharmacists. Current edition. PSA.

Derendorf, H and Schmidt, S. Rowland and Tozer's Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Concepts and Applications. Wolters Kluwer. Current edition.

DiPiro J et al. Concepts in Clinical Pharmacokinetics. Current edition. American Society of Health-System Pharmacy.

Gowan J and Roller L. Practical disease state management for pharmacists. Current edition. APPCo.

Hughes, J. Case Studies in Practice. Use of Laboratory Test Data. Current edition. PSA.

Katzung, BG and Trevor, AJ.  Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. McGraw-Hill-Lange. Current edition.

Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, AsterJ.  Robbins and Cotran Pathologic basis of disease. Current edition. Elsevier Health Sciences‎

Rang, H et al. Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology. Current edition. Elsevier

 

  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
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  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.