PM2PY2: Clinical Therapeutics 1

Module code: PM2PY2

Module provider: Pharmacy; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 40

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Elena Kabova, email: e.kabova@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to Associated Pharmacy students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PM2PY1 AND TAKE PM2PY3 (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to the therapeutic themes of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and integrates the science into clinical practice. Students build on knowledge gained in Part 1 modules that introduce cell biology and physiological systems and drug design and formulation. The module focuses on the anatomy, pharmacology, toxicology, infections and therapeutics of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, such as ear, eye, nose and throat (EENT) disorders, asthma, peptic ulcer and inflammatory bowel disease. Students learn about the pathology of diseases that affect the EENT, lungs and gastrointestinal tract and how they are managed therapeutically, how medicines are formulated and delivered to the eyes, ears, nose, lungs and gastrointestinal tract (e.g. drops, inhalers, nebulisers, tablets, capsules, oral solutions/suspensions etc.) including pharmacokinetics and biopharmaceutic principles, and pharmaceutical care and patient management issues.

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of human respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and related therapeutics with strong integration of physiology themes taught during the first year. The module also provides the basis for the therapeutics modules taught elsewhere in the programme. To achieve that, the core science concepts detailed in the summary above will be taught using an appropriate range of teaching activities to allow integration of the disciplines that link to the therapeutic topics of the module.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the basic principles of pharmacology encompassing pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology
2. Describe the anatomy, physiology, aetiology, diagnosis and therapeutics of the respiratory, including EENT, and gastrointestinal diseases
3. Discuss the pharmaceutical management of the conditions incorporating all relevant aspects of teaching including pharmacology
4. Discuss the different administration routes and formulations for the EENT, lung and gastrointestinal systems
5. Undertake a case-based discussion whilst considering the psychological, physiological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on patients
6. Work effectively as part of a team to undertake and deliver a medicine design project
7. Recognise the role of nutrition in health management towards promoting healthy lifestyles

Module content

This module introduces the therapeutics of respiratory, EENT, and gastrointestinal diseases. An appropriate range of lectures, tutorials, practical classes, group working and guided individual study will be used to achieve the learning outcomes and also integrate with those of previous modules, helping to contextualise relevance to the practice of pharmacy.

Content that will be covered includes: concepts of pharmacology including molecular targets and toxicology; respiratory disease and EENT disorders, and therapeutics including anatomy, aetiology and pathology of the major diseases associated with this system; gastrointestinal disease and therapeutics including aetiology and pathology of the major diseases associated with this system, including (common) infections; drug discovery and formulation related to these disease groups; and pharmacokinetics, biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical materials. The module also contains the Medicine Design project, which is a fully integrated group project where each group is provided with characteristics of an active pharmaceutical ingredient that impact on the chemical, formulation, and pharmacological properties of the medicine, as well as potentially impacting on patient behaviour towards taking the medicine. The group must select the most suitable compound, develop it using the most appropriate dosage form and understand the clinical governance surrounding use of the new product.

Students will also develop the following:

1. Management of project work and maintaining appropriate records demonstrating professional practice
2. Awareness of how pharmacists work with other healthcare professionals to achieve effective patient care
3. Consideration of sustainability in their medicine and device choices whilst recognising that medicines optimisation is also an important sustainability tool that complements patient care
4. Awareness of the proper disposal of medicines to reduce environmental pollution and the impact on biodiversity

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, group work, directed private study, self-directed learning, as well as practical-based laboratory classes. Some of the lectures or tutorials will utilise a case-based learning-like approach: activities will adopt characteristics of workshops where students will engage in formative activities e.g., group work, in-class discussion. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided and facilities for computer-aided literature searching for additional relevant materials will enable students to improve their own learning skills.

Study hours

At least 98 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve all of the following to pass this module:

1. A mark of 40% in each assessment 
2. An overall module mark of 40% 

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative assessment is largely based on coursework and self-directed assessment and will reinforce each of the learning outcomes of the module. These will be staff, peer, or self- assessed and will include written and online assignments. These assessments will provide students with feedback on their achievement of the learning outcomes and prepare them for the summative assessments.

Reassessment

Additional costs