Course Title: Diagnosis 7

Part A: Course Overview

Course ID: 007276

Course Title: Diagnosis 7

Credit Points: 6

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
MEDS1042	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Barbara Polus

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7714

Course Coordinator Email: barbara.polus@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 210.02.08B

Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course assumes knowledge in the areas of anatomy, physiology and  general and systemic pathology.

Course Description

The primary aim of this unit is to provide the student with the principles of pharmacology. From this base it is then possible for the student to understand the action of drugs on physiological and pathophysiological processes. The student should then also be able to deduce adverse effects of families of drugs as well as precautions and contraindications to drug use.

1.General principles of pharmacology
* pharmacological system of classification of drugs
* how to read a script
* use of the Mims annual
* drug terms commonly used in clinical pharmacology
* fundamentals of pharmacodynamics
* fundamentals of pharmacokinetics

2.Autonomic pharmacology
* anatomical, physiological and pharmacological organisation of the ANS
* types and subtypes of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors
* clinical indications for the use of cholinergic and adrenergic agents from a knowledge of receptor distribution and autonomic nervous system effects.

3.Vasoactive substances
* outline the substances which act on blood vessels to help control the circulatory system (histamine, prostaglandins and serotonin)
* understand the role of each of these substances as a chemical modulator of physiological function
* understand the mechanism and adverse effects of each of these substances

4.Psychopharmacology
* discuss the major roles of the neurotransmitter systems of the brain
* understand the use, mechanisms of action and adverse effects of the main classes of medications used to alter brain function (antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilisers, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, antiparkinsonian agents)

5.Pharmacology of pain
* outline peripheral mechanisms involved in transmission of the pain signal
* outline central mechanisms involved in transmission of the pain signal
* understand endogenous pain control mechanisms
* describe the major transmitter systems thought to involved in the opioid-mediated analgesia system
* understand the rationale behind the used of narcotic analgesics and their adverse effects
* understand the rationale behind the use of the NSAIDs

6.Drugs used to promote oxygenation and perfusion of tissues
* understand the use of drugs used in the therapy of cardiac, vascular and respiratory conditions:
digitalis, antiarrhythmic and antianginal agents
antihypertensive drugs
anticoagulants, thrombolytic and antiplatelet agents
diuretics
antianaemic agents
bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids and asthma prophylactics

7.Drugs used to regulate GI function
* understand the mechanism of action and adverse effects of
antacids
antiflatulents
agents used in the treatment of peptic ulcers
* understand the mechanism of action and adverse effects of:
laxatives
antidiarrhoeals
* understand the mechanism of action and adverse effects of drugs used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting

8.Drugs used to alter cellular proliferation
* identify the major antibiotic drug groups, the nature of their action, spectrum of their activity and adverse reactions
* discuss the difference between antiseptics and disinfectants
* discuss the use, mechanism of action and adverse effects of major antiparasitic drugs
* discuss pharmacological methods of malaria control
* discuss the use, mechanism of action and adverse effects of antiviral drugs
* discuss the use, mechanism of action and adverse effects of antifungal drugs
* outline the categories of immunomodulating agents and their general uses
* describe the mechanism of action of the major groups of antineoplastic agents

9.Drugs used topically 
* understand the different vehicles used in skin, ENT and eye preparations
* identify classes of drugs used in the treatment of common skin, ENT and eye disorders

10. Endocrine system and metabolism
*Review pathophysiology of diabetes (Type I and II)
*Discuss pharmacological methods of blood glucose regulation
*Discuss therapeutics regimens for insulin
*Treatment and management if diabetes
*Understand thyroid function
*Understand mechanisms of calcium regulation
*Describe and discuss medical management of thyroid and parathyroid disorders
*Describe and discuss the various actions of glucocorticoids including metabolic and regulatory actions; anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions
*Discuss clinical uses of glucocorticoids

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The following program capabilities are foccussed on this course

1. A professional level ability to demonstrate the knowledge in the basic and clinical sciences needed for patient care in the context of evidence-based care and the legal scope of practice

2. An advanced level ability to demonstrate the skills in clinical assessment (including chiropractic-specific skills) needed for patient care in the context of evidence-based care and the legal scope of practice

3. An advanced level ability to demonstrate skills in the steps of problem-solving (identification of a problem, gathering/analyzing/synthesizing information, implementation of a solution, and assessment of its effectiveness) at the levels of the patient, practitioner, profession, and society.

Learning outcomes inlcude:

To understand the pharmacological system of classification of drugs

2.To understand the use of the medical reference system

3.To understand fundamental principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

4.To understand the fundamental mechanisms of action and adverse effects of major drug classes

Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities will include instruction focussed activity with information being made available on the DLS and in the form of tutorials; clinical case studies where students can learn to recognise clinical uses of drugs, their effect on the person and possible drug interactions; the use of exercises and quizzes.

Overview of Learning Resources

Learning materials are accessed on the DLS via the learning hub, the RMIT library and directly from websites.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment Important note: Students are normally allowed supplementary assessment in one course per semester (where all other courses are graded to at least passing level). Eligibility for Supplementary/Deferred/Additional Assessment is determined by the Student Progress Committee who will consider the student’s performance across the program and Requests for Special Consideration (see following note). Supplementary/Deferred/Additional Assessments will be held in the week commencing 11th of December. All students must be available in that week as these examinations can only be deferred in exceptional circumstances. Requests for Special Consideration must be made on the prescribed form no later than 2 working days after the examination was conducted or final date for submission/completion of task. Forms are available from the Division’s General Office (201.5.06) and from the RMIT website: Please use the following link http://mams.rmit.edu.au/3cwkpo7rz7pj1.pdf

The examination is closed book; no readable material may be taken into or used during the examination. The use of any such material, or that of any others communicated during the examination constitutes cheating. The RMIT policy on cheating is that consequences of proven cheating are severe; results will be cancelled, not only for that piece of work, but also for that subject and other subjects being studied simultaneously. It is important to understand that the diagnostic science knowledge base is cumulative, and all material presented will be assessed in an ongoing manner during clinical practicum and in specific clinical skills examinations throughout the remainder of the program. Requests for special consideration must be made on the prescribed form no later than 2 working days after the final examination for the subject. Forms are available from the departmental office. Gradings of High Distinction – HDH, Distinction – DID, Credit – CRC, Pass – PAP, Fail – NNN, and Result Withheld – RWT will be awarded in accordance with RMIT Operating Procedures.