CSB530 Pharmacotherapeutics for Podiatrists

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit will extend your knowledge and application of the pharmacotherapeutic use of the medicines administered and prescribed for the treatment of the disease states encountered in professional podiatry practice in Australia, including effective medication history taking to inform management. Drug selection and discussion of their therapeutic use by Podiatrists is based on the Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Podiatry Board of Australia, particularly Appendix B: List of Scheduled Medicines Approved by the Podiatry Board of Australia. You will also be introduced to resources available in Australia guiding you towards the appropriate selection and use of these medicines, including recognised clinical guidelines e.g. the Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Monthly Index of Medical Specialties better known as MIMS, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Critical assessment of such resources is essential for the practice of Quality Use of Medicines.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Relate knowledge of the pharmacology and the therapeutic indications of drugs endorsed for use by the Podiatry Board of Australia;
2. Acquire and analyse information regarding medical, clinical and pharmacological history relative to an individual’s social and cultural context.
3. Access resources that provide evidence for, evaluate and recommend, the appropriate selection and use of medicines in clinical practice
4. Apply relevant regulatory frameworks with respect to the safety and efficacy of drugs; and
5. Apply the principles of Quality Use of Medicines.

Content

Learning Approaches

A flipped approach is taken in this unit and all didactic content is delivered as a recorded lecture prior to class. Tutorials contain active learning strategies such as discussing real world scenarios and solving case based pharmaceutical problems. Through interprofessional learning you will deepen your knowledge of pharmaceutical treatment options via discussion with pharmacists and learn how to use and interpret appropriate evidence and therapeutic guidelines.  

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Discussion in tutorials with peers and academics aims to provide instant feedback on learning in tutorials. Teaching in tutorials has been scaffolded to assessment as a feed forward to build the required knowledge and skills to complete the assessment. 

You will be given written and verbal feedback when you receive your assessment results.

Assessment

Overview

Each assessment item is designed to measure your ability to apply the knowledge and skills stated in the unit learning outcomes.  In Assessment 1, you will complete a quiz to demonstrate your understanding of essential concepts in pharmacotherapeutics and decision making relevant to podiatrists.  For Assessment 2, you will be required to take an effective medication history within the context and a simulated patient encounter.  Assessment 3 will require you to show your understanding of the content of this unit and pharmaceutical approaches.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Quiz

A quiz of one hour duration, comprised of multiple choice and short answer questions, that will test students on their understanding of knowledge and use of drugs that are relevant to podiatrists and relevant legisltation that underpins their use.

Assessment: Patient Interview

Medication history taking in podiatry is a fundamental competency practitioners must achieve in order to meet AHPRA's threshold competency standards for registration.  This assessment item will involve you participating in a simulated patient history taking interview.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply to this assessment item.  If you do not achieve satisfactory performance, you will be permitted one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when your achieved grade is within 1 grade of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to your reattempt.

Assessment: Theory Exam (Written)

The theory exam will assess students their understanding of the content of the unit and pharmacotherapeutic approaches and considerations that are relevant to the practice of podiatry.  

Threshold Assessment:

Students must pass this theory exam in order to demonstrate a safe and competent understanding of pharmacotherapeutics. If you do not achieve satisfactory performance, you will be permitted one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when your achieved grade is within 1 grade of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to your reattempt.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Australian medicines handbook. (Current Edition). Adelaide, SA: AMH Pty Ltd. Electronic version available through QUT Library Databases website or directly at www.amh.net.au

DiPiro., and et al. Pharmacotherapy: A pathophysiological approach. (Current Edition). NY: McGraw-Hill Medical Pub. Division.

Further resources are listed in the Guidelines for Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines by Podiatry Board of Australia.

Golan., and et al. Principles of pharmacology: The pathophysiological basis of drug therapy. (Current Edition). Philadelphia; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

MIMS. (Current Edition). Sydney, NSW: MIMS Australia and UBM Media Pty Ltd. Electronic version available through QUT Library Databases website or directly at www.mims.com.au

National Prescribing Service (NPS) at www.nps.org.au

Rang, H.P., and et al. Pharmacology. (Current Edition). Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Therapeutic Goods Administration at www.tga.gov.au

Therapeutic Guidelines (Current Edition). Melbourne, VIC: Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd. Electronic version available through QUT Library Databases website or directly at www.tg.com.au. Essential titles for podiatry: Antibiotic, analgesic, dermatology, endocrinology, toxicology and dental.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area, which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus.