MD3003 - Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Credit points:	03
Year:	2005
Student Contribution Band:	Band 3
Administered by:

The aim of the subject is to create learning situations in which students can acquire knowledge of the mechanisms of drug action in order to understand the therapeutic use of drugs and their possible adverse effects. As part of the systems-based approach, students will have been introduced to pharmacology from the system-specific angle. Therefore, in this subject, the clinical applications will be dealt with from a more mechanistic approach. The mechanisms of action will be used to explain the therapeutic and side effects of drugs, as well as the bases for routes of administration, dosage regimes, drug interactions, tolerance and dependence.

Learning Outcomes

• ability to communicate and express empathy with patients and their parents/relatives, particularly in relation to optimising a patients medication;
• appreciate how the pharmacological action(s) of a drug and its kinetic behaviour and explain its therapeutic use and side effects;
• awareness of the role of public education and health promotion;
• be introduced to treatment of chemical poisoning, drug overdose, venoms;
• calculation of drug doses and be able to critically assess a patients medication;
• develop an understanding of the professional, legal and ethical issues associated with drug administration;
• have a basic understanding of the design and interpretation of clinical trials;
• outline how drugs interfere with chemical transmission in the major organ systems;
• understand the rational behind drug doses and the routes of drug administration, the concept of drug receptors and how these are linked to biochemical systems which mediate drug action and the principles of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.

Prerequisites:

All level 1 and level 2 subjects in MBBS program

Availabilities
, , Study Period 0
Census Date 06-May-2005
Coord/Lect:	jc132544.
Contact hours:	13 hours
Assessment:	(80%); (20%).
Special Assessment Requirements:	This subject is assessed within an integrated assessment program for all Year 3 subjects. The assessment as detailed below, is the integrated assessment schedule for all Level 3 subjects. Students must participate in all formative assessment tasks to be eligible to sit the summative assessments. Attendance at clinical placements is mandatory and completion to a satisfactory level is required.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.