Course Title: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2060

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

ONPS2060

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

ONPS2060

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Internet

 Sem 1 2021

Course Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Paul Wright

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6512

Course Coordinator Email: paul.wright@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 220.04.019


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.


Course Description

The course is designed to introduce you to the principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the nature and actions of some common therapeutically used groups of pharmaceuticals. References are made to herbal medicines and to drugs which osteopathic and chiropractic patients may be taking. The syllabus is covered in a program of online resources, lectures and tutorials designed to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge in Pharmacology and Toxicology. An additional aspect is an appreciation of drug mechanisms of action and possible interactions between pharmaceuticals and herbal preparations. This course is intended to develop your comprehension of the basic principles of pharmacology and toxicology, as well as the mechanism of action and use of some commonly taken drugs. This course is a core requirement of the respective program accreditation committees for the Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic and Osteopathy programs. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) for BP278 Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Chinese Medicine):

  • PLO 1 Provide specialised health care within a patient-centred, evidence-based framework
  • PLO 2 Gather clinical information to make accurate differential diagnoses, assessment and management plans and carry out effective treatment
  • PLO 3 Practice as a competent health care professional in a safe, ethical and legally responsible manner
  • PLO 6 Work independently and in teams, specifically to lead and contribute to inter-professional care partnerships.
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) for BP279 Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy):
  • PLO 3 Gather and interpret health information, and employ clinical reasoning to develop differential diagnoses, to inform assessment and management
  • PLO 5 Manage all aspects of clinical practice to comply with ethical, legal, and regulatory standards in an evolving healthcare industry
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) for BP280 Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Science (Chiropractic):
  • PLO 2 Gather clinical information to make accurate differential diagnoses, assessment and management plans and carry out effective treatment
  • PLO 3 Practice as a competent health care professional in a safe, ethical and legally responsible manner
  • PLO 5 Communicate effectively in a range of forms (written, online, oral) and with diverse audiences (patients, community/public, agencies and health professionals)
  • PLO 6 Work independently and in teams, specifically to lead and contribute to inter-professional care partnerships.


On satisfactorily completing the course it is intended that you should be able to comprehend the basic principles of pharmacology and toxicology, as well as the mechanism of action and use of some commonly taken drugs. At the end of this course you should be able to:

  1. Describe and use the fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology;
  2. Display a basic knowledge of the commonly used drugs your patients may be taking, and the implications that this may have on any treatment decisions you make;
  3. Understand and describe how drugs are handled by the body, how drugs affect the body, and how drugs interact with nerves and hormones;
  4. Understand and describe the general effects of some common therapeutic agents used to treat important disorders of the central nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and gastrointestinal systems, and in the treatment of pain, inflammation, infection and cancer;
  5. Understand and describe mechanisms of toxicity, and toxicity testing;
  6. Identify the actual and/or potential interactions for drugs;
  7. Demonstrate your understanding of drug development, evaluation and regulation.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment activities and tutorial sessions are conducted throughout the semester in order to provide you with helpful feedback to support improvement of your skills for subsequent assessments.

Your formative assessment will require you to demonstrate your learning from exemplars of real world scenarios and case studies during your participation in learning forums, such as the tutorial sessions. You will also be required to undertake a review of a topical public issue to complete individual written assignments, including a public information item and a professional information item. 

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Tutorial-related short answer question tests (2) 
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 

Assessment Task 2: Topic quizzes (5)
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 

Assessment Task 3: Individual written assignments (2)
Weighting 50%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.