Title
Code
Level
Credit rating
Pre-requisites
Type
Aims
Learning outcomes
Content
General therapeutics
CCM01
7
20 points
Normal entry requirements to the course plus attendance at
Residential Weekend 1
Distance learning with associated residential weekend
The aims of this module are to examine the concepts of pharmaceutical care through a thorough understanding of the therapeutic process.
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
 discuss the concept of pharmaceutical care.
 discriminate between commonly used reference sources on drugs and drug therapy in order to answer specific queries.
 describe the therapeutic process.
 discuss sources of inter-patient variation and assess their relevance in individual cases.
 identify the potential for occurrence of drug interactions and explain the mechanisms involved.
 evaluate the influence and limitations of laboratory data on drug therapy and patient care.
 critically assess and prioritise patients in need of pharmaceutical care.
 make reasoned recommendations for the drug treatment of various pathologies.
 communicate with the patient and prescriber on the identified problems, issues or concerns in order to resolve these satisfactorily.
This module comprises a total of 200 hours of student effort, including time spent on assignments.
Understanding the diagnostic process
Influence and limitations of laboratory data on drug therapy and patient care
Inter-patient variation
Patient factors influencing the choice of treatment e.g. problems caused by multiple pathologies, extremes of age, renal or hepatic impairment
Illustrative examples of the rational selection of drug treatment

Field
Courses for which module is acceptable
School home
External examiner
Important mechanisms of drug interactions
Teaching and learning strategies The content of this module will be delivered by way of distance learning material (90 hours) and supported by guided study (95 hours) and a residential weekend (15 hours).
Learning support Distance learning material and accompanying textbooks, published reader material and reader material prepared in-house. Peer review and support through learning sets.
Assessment (examples) Following discussion with a GP summarise your findings on the diagnostic process.
Produce 3 examples of drug interactions and discuss likely mechanisms.
Identify 3 patients with renal/hepatic impairment and discus how their drugs and doses take account of this.
Of these 6 cases decide on the one most urgently in need of pharmaceutical intervention and provide a reasoned care plan.
Brief description of module The concept of pharmaceutical care will be examined through a thorough understanding of the therapeutic process.
Area examination board
Module team/authors
Semester offered
Timetable slots
Site
Date of first approval n/a
Delyth James, Sheila Beaumont, Graham Davies n/a n/a n/a
November 1997
Date of last revision December 2000
Date of approval this version January 2004 n/a
PGDip/MSc in CPHC. Compulsory.
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Dr D J Temple and Mrs T Thomas