PM3PY2: Clinical Therapeutics 3

Module code: PM3PY2

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

Credits: 40

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Maria Maiaru, email: m.maiaru@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PM3PY1 AND TAKE PM3PY3 (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 brings into context materials taught in Part 1 and Part 2 modules involving anatomy, immunology, pharmacology, formulation science and therapeutics. It introduces students to the therapeutic themes of nervous system, mental health and musculoskeletal disorders as well as advanced pharmacokinetics and cancer, and integrates the science into clinical practice. Each topic includes aspects of anatomy, physiology, pathology, disease management and prevention, medicine design and statistics, and patient management.  

Aims 

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of the human central nervous and musculoskeletal disorders and cancer and related therapeutics. To achieve this, 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 anatomy, physiology, immunology, aetiology, diagnosis and therapeutics of the peripheral and central nervous system, the musculoskeletal system and cancer, to include different administration routes for these diseases
2. Discuss the pharmaceutical management of the conditions incorporating all relevant aspects of teaching including pharmacology and pharmacokinetics
3. Explain the social and behavioural aspects of dealing with drug misuse and addiction
4. Discuss how pharmacists work with other healthcare professionals to achieve effective patient care
5. Undertake data analysis of pharmaceutical and/or clinical data
6. Undertake a case-based assignment whilst considering the psychological, physiological, and physical impact of prescribing decisions on patients
7. Explain the role of person-centred care and medicines optimisation: tailoring treatment to the individual, personalised medicine, effect of disease on the patient, health beliefs and behaviours, promoting adherence and self-care, providing medicines-related information with a knowledge of health policies

Module content

This module introduces the therapeutics of central and peripheral nervous system and musculoskeletal disorders and cancer. 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. The students will also undertake interprofessional education with other healthcare professional students. 

Content that will be covered includes: an introduction to musculoskeletal systems, fractures and sports injuries, metabolic bone disorders, inflammatory joint disorders, related immunological responses, use of biologics and their formulation and quality assurance. Similarly, anatomy and physiology of the peripheral and central nervous system, pain management, mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, drug of addiction and misuse including management of these along with pharmaceutical care, including safety, efficacy, biopharmaceutics, statistics, drug delivery, and prescribing will be covered. In addition, the pathology of cancer and different modes of treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be covered in this module. 

Students will also develop the following: 

Consideration of the sustainability in their medicine and device choices whilst recognising that medicines optimisation is also an important sustainability tool that complements patient care. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, group work, directed private study, and self-directed learning. 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 123 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 the Oral Presentation
2. A mark of 40% in the Data Analysis Report
3. A mark of 40% in the Exam
4. 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