PHARMACY 766 : Applied Pharmacotherapy

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Embodies evidence-based practice and the philosophy of pharmaceutical care to achieve optimum therapeutic outcomes in patients with endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, mental health, neurological and gastrointestinal disease states.

Course Overview

The course is aimed at health professionals who wish to advance their understanding of pharmacotherapy in the overall treatment of their patients with disease. There is an emphasis on evidence-based practice and the modules embody the philosophy of pharmaceutical care in the context of various diseases. The candidate must demonstrate an ability to integrate their knowledge of the published evidence with the needs and preferences of the patient in order to develop a comprehensive pharmaceutical care plan.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PHARMACY 764, 765

Course Contacts

Course Director: Dr Nataly Martini (n.martini@auckland.ac.nz)

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply patient-centred care principles to diverse populations, demonstrating an understanding of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental health influencers. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  2. Identify and critically evaluate the implications of long-term therapeutic/pharmaceutical care across a range of medical conditions. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Demonstrate mastery in advanced pharmacotherapeutics, drug mechanisms, and incorporate evidence-based principles in clinical decisions. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Evaluate the relevance of scientific literature, analyse clinical scenarios, and address drug-related challenges to optimise patient outcomes. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  5. Cleary communicate complex pharmaceutical details to a variety of audiences, utilising diverse communication tools effectively while showcasing empathy. (Capability 3 and 6)
  6. Collaborate within healthcare teams and uphold, as well as advocate for, the highest ethical standards in all professional dealings, including recognising and addressing ethical dilemmas. (Capability 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Case Studies 40% Individual Coursework
Assignments 10% Individual Coursework
Presentation 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Case Studies
Assignments
Presentation
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 300 hours over 15 weeks.

For this course, you can expect 2 x 8-hour study days, 4 x 2-hour teleconferences, 20 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 20 hours of work for each module, 10 hours of work on the assignment and 20 hours for test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled workday activities to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and these will not be recorded.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including teleconferences to complete components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and these will be recorded.
Attendance is required for the exam.
Where possible, study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on student feedback, no further changes will be made to this course for 2023.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.