Introduction to Pharmacotherapy
Required Texts
Woodrow, R., Colbert, B.J., (2019). Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions (8th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
ISBN: 9781285077888
Course Description
This course is designed for students who are interested in having a better understanding of how medical substances play an important role in everyday life. Content is designed to assist students with the impact of easy access to many types of medications. The general public needs a basic understanding of prescription and over the counter products, as well as the risks of addiction from a variety of drugs such as opioids. Research and evidence-based knowledge will be used to explore the role of medications in treatment of different disorders and diseases. Throughout the course, there will be an opportunity to develop a basic understanding of the effect a drug has on our bodies as well as safe administration.
Course Objectives
· Demonstrate an understanding of drug terminology.
· Explore major principles surrounding how the body responds when a drug is given
· Convey the body’s need for nutrients and vitamins for proper functioning to select the appropriate treatment
· Articulate the drug classes to treat conditions affecting the major systems of the body including how they treat diseases and their associated side effects
· Illustrate the role of pain management medications, antibiotics, and musculoskeletal drugs in patient care
· Investigate the phenomena of drug abuse and opioid addiction.
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
Tentative Course Schedule
|
Course Week |
Weekly Content |
|
Week 1: Introduction to Drug Therapy |
· Read Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 · Read “How to Read a Package Insert” · Review Lectures: “Welcome” and “Introduction to Drug Therapy” · Watch “A Day in the Life of a Pharmacist” · Discussions "Drug Information: Establishing Validity” and “Taking Stock” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments |
|
Week 2: Medication Errors |
· Read Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8 · Read “Common Medical Abbreviations · Review Lecture: “Errors with Medication” · Watch “ The 6 Rights of Medication Errors” · Discussion "Medication Errors” and “Safety through Technology” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments · Project |
|
Week 3: Parental Medication |
· Read Chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12 · Read “Vitamin’s and Minerals” · Watch “The Scoop on Herbs and Supplements” · Discussion "Skin Diseases: What is the course of therapy” and “Seconds Count” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments |
|
Week 4: Medication Treatments |
· Read Chapters 13, 14 and 15 · Review Lectures: “Autonomic Nervous System/Antineoplastic/Urological System Medications” · Watch “Be Safe from Anaphylactic” and “Chemotherapy: What to Expect” · Discussion "Case Study: Sheila Anderson” and “Name that System” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments · Project |
|
Week 5: Discovering Medications |
· Read Chapters 16, 17, and 18 · Read “Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance (AR/AMR)” · Review Lectures: “Gastrointestinal, Anto-Infectives, Eye/Ear Medications” and “The Fear Factor” · Watch “Acid Reflux” and “Helicobacter Pylori” · Discussion "Antibiotics” and “Vaccines – Yay or Nay?” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments |
|
Week 6: Addiction or Dependency |
· Read Chapters 19, 20 and 21 · Read “Mental Health Awareness” · Review Lectures: “Pain Control, Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Abuse” and “Deadly Packaging” · Watch “America’s Opiod Epidemic” and “ADHD Treatment” · Discussion "Pain Control” and “Non-Opioid Addictive Drugs” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments |
|
Week 7: Diabetes and Genetics |
· Read Chapters 22, 23 and 24 · Read “The American Diabetes Association: Symptoms of Diabetes” · Review Lectures: “Drugs to treat the Brain and Hormones” and “A Crisis of Sugar” · Watch “Diabetes and Genetics”, “I am the Face of Parkinson’s Disease” and “How does Birth Control Work?” · Discussion "Seizures” and “Parkinson’s Disease” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments |
|
Week 8: Cardiovascular and Respiratory System |
· Read Chapters 3, 4, and 5 · Read “Drugs and the Elderly” · Review Lecture: “The Heart, the Lungs and the Elderly” · Watch “Just a little Health Attack” and “The difference between a Rescue and Control Asthma Medications” · Discussion "Alert: High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol” and “Mental Health Awareness” · Practice Activities · Weekly Assignments · Project |
Grading Policy
|
Grading Category |
Grade Weight |
|
Discussions |
60% |
|
Assignments |
20% |
|
Projects |
20% |
Estimated Student Workload
The following table outlines the academic effort required by students to become successful in this course. While the times in the table are hourly approximations, it is presented to help students with their time management. Please note, depending on the student’s background knowledge and experience of the course subject, and an individual student’s academic capabilities, these times will vary.
|
Course Week |
Activity and Time Required |
|
Week 1 |
Reading/Watching |
6.7 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
4.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
16.7 |
|
|
Week 2 |
Reading/Watching |
4.9 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
4.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
14.9 |
|
|
Week 3 |
Reading/Watching |
7.0 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
4.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
17.0 |
|
|
Week 4 |
Reading/Watching |
4.9 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
7.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
17.9 |
|
|
Week 5 |
Reading/Watching |
11.2 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
4.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
21.2 |
|
|
Week 6 |
Reading/Watching |
7.9 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
4.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
17.9 |
|
|
Week 7 |
Reading/Watching |
8.8 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
4.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
18.8 |
|
|
Week 8 |
Reading/Watching |
6.2 |
|
Discussing |
6.0 |
|
|
Homework |
5.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
17.2 |
