General provisions

This course replaces and corresponds to 3FB006 or 3FB420, Clinical pharmacy. The contents overlap the Faculty of Pharmacy's course Clinical pharmacy C 3FB021.

Entry requirements

Within the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy applies that 150 credits should be approved from earlier courses within the programme. Furthermore, completed and passed course in advanced pharmacotherapy 7.5 credits are a prerequisite.

Eligibility to be accepted to single subject course is the one that has at least 165 credits including a pharmaceutical degree or ongoing studies on the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy at a Swedish university. Previous studies should include courses about 60 credits within Pharmacy and/or Pharmaceutical science and/or Pharmaceutical bioscience, of which basic course at least 7.5 credits Pharmacokinetics and at least 7.5 credits Pharmacotherapy and the course Advanced pharmacotherapy 7.5 credit points or the equivalent knowledge. Equivalent knowledge is tested individually. Knowledge in Swedish and English equivalent to what is required for basic eligibility to Swedish higher education on basic level.

Learning outcomes

After examination, the student should be able to:

- apply methods and tools for the implementation of patient interviews and drug screening

- extract and record relevant information from medical records and patient interviews

- identify, assess and prioritize drug related problems in a given patient and motivate priority

- propose treatment goals and actions and motivate the latter on the basis of recommendations and evidence summaries and patient-related factors

- choose and justify appropriate drug therapy concerning medication, dosage, dosing interval, dosage form and duration of treatment adapted to the given patient and other drug treatment

- use pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to explain the treatment strategies and adapt dosing regimens in special patient groups

- explain the grading of evidence in evidence-based medicine, and describe the findings in selected evidence summaries

- explain the role of different professions and work on a ward, and reflect on the clinical pharmacist's professional role

Content

The course includes working methods and tools for clinical pharmaceutical work. The student works with and discuss real and complex patient cases with a focus on drug-related problems. Practice is carried out within the in patient care and includes rounds, auscultation with health-care personnel and patient communication. The students also document patient cases continuously during the practice. During the course, the student may also train: - the ability to communicate with patients, physicians and other health-care personnel - the ability to assess the need of drug-related information to patients physicians and other health-care personnel - the ability to search, sort and review scientific literature critically - oral presentation - decision making - independent thinking

Instruction

Teaching is given in the form of lectures, oral presentations, group discussions, seminars, workshops, practice on ward and individual studies of literature. Problem-based learning is included as working method. Compulsory parts of the course: Course introduction, seminars, group discussions, practice, written reports, oral presentations, workshops, selected lectures and exam follow-up.

Assessment

A written examination takes place at the end of the course. For a passing grade the student must pass the examination (3 hp) and all portions of the course that are obligatory (1,5 hp), OSCE (0,5 hp) and clinical attachment (2,5 hp). Obligatory portions of the course may be completed or re-taken when the same course is offered again if, and only if, the course is not full. Student who have failed the first examination are allowed five re-examinations.

Other directives

During practice (VFU), working hours other than Monday to Friday at 08:00 to 17:00 may occur. Under the VFU, basic hygiene routines should be applied, for example concerning short-sleeves, jewelry and artificial nails. The examiner may interrupt the current VFU. For a passing grade, the student must attend all the VFU days of the course.