Course Description

This course focuses on the clinical application of pharmacology in the management of patients, including frequently prescribed drugs in the health care practice. The basic principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, along with pertinent physiology and information on dosing schedules, therapeutic effects, and adverse reactions are presented. The course content provides web-based discussions, journal review assignments, and case studies/discussion.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits:  3

This course is 3-credits and runs 15 weeks, with each week beginning on a Sunday and ending on the following Saturday. This course is a graduate course provided via the internet using the Canvas Platform. Modes of instruction and course format include assigned readings, links to relevant sites on the internet, narrated PowerPoint slideshows (streaming audio or MP3 files), and directed discussion activities, written assignments and real-time video web conferencing meetings to review class materials. All session assignments, PDF formatted handouts, web-conference sessions, video links, podcasts, hyperlinks, readings and other information will be available at the course website or through the University Library Resources website.

Prerequisites

BPHE 5510 Overview of Disease Process and Treatment or similar course.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

To become familiar with major drug classifications including their indications, contraindications, and adverse drug reactions.

Apply knowledge of human physiology and anatomy to explain the mechanism of action and organ effects of major drug classes; Identify adverse drug reactions and/or patterns of medication misuse that need to be reported to the patient's physician; Describe the pharmacological treatment for major diagnoses; Recognize the adverse effects of medications and be able to discuss the appropriate medical intervention; List the principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and how they change with age; Highlight specific categories of drugs that may produce adverse reactions at different stages across the lifespan; Develop a research question related to course content.