Module Title:Drugs and How They Work 1
Language of Instruction:English
Credits: 5
NFQ Level:6
Module Delivered In 1 programme(s)
Teaching & Learning Strategies: The material will be delivered in one, one-hour lecture and one, one-hour practical class per week. Pre-reading material and class notes will be on blackboard and students will be required to access the material prior to classes. Theory relating to drug development, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and antimicrobials will be outlined in lectures. Regular quizzes and MCQs will consolidate lecture material. In practical classes, students will gain hands-on experience of using MPS (McLernons, community pharmacy dispensary software application) by dispensing simple prescription. Students will Case studies (in lectures and practical classes) will allow students to apply what they are learning and explore it’s relevance to practice.
Module Aim: On completion of this modules, students will have gained an understanding of the principles of how drugs work [when administered to human patients], the regulation of medicines [i.e. the role of the HPRA and EMA], drug safety, risk mitigation strategies and sources of information, i.e. SmPCs, drug formularies such as the IMR or BNF and antibioticprescribing.ie. Students with also be introduced to how antimicrobial agents work, anti-microbial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner should be able to:
LO1 Explain key principles of drug development, regulation, generic and interchangeable medicines.
LO2 Describe basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their impact on how drugs work and choice of route of administration.
LO3 Outline how antimicrobial agents work, basic principles of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship.
LO4 Dispense basic prescriptions on MPS (McLernons community pharmacy dispensary software) and locate appropriate information about drugs in SmPCs and IMF or BNF.
Pre-requisite learning
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed.
No requirements listed
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Theory
Regulation of licensed medicines/drugs: explain the role and functions of the HPRA and EMA as drug regulators, generic medicines, interchangeable medicines.
Theory
Routes of administration: List routes of administration and their advantages/disadvantages for different patient groups.
Theory
Basic pharmacokinetic processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion of drugs. Factors which influence these processes in different patient cohorts. Drug half-life.
Theory
Basic pharmacodynamics including: agonists, antagonists, therapeutic index.
Theory
Use of antimicrobials; Principles of antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrobial stewardship and resistance. Overview of antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal and antimalarial and agents.
Practical
Dispense basic prescriptions using MPS.
Practical
Access information regarding drug use and safety, using a range of reference materials.
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment50.00%
Practical50.00%
Special Regulation
Students must achieve grade (35%) in both Continuous Assessment and Practical.
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Other Weekly blackboard quizzes. 5 minutes screen-recording about drugs regulation/safety or other module content. 1,2,3,4 50.00 n/a
No Project
Practical
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Practical/Skills Evaluation Dispensing basic prescriptions. Locate drug-related information using appropriate sources. 1,2,3,4 50.00 Sem 1 End
No End of Module Formal Examination
Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Other Weekly blackboard quizzes. 5 minutes screen-recording about drugs regulation/safety or other module content. 1,2,3,4 50.00 Ongoing
No Project
Practical
Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome addressed % of total Assessment Date
Practical/Skills Evaluation Dispensing basic prescriptions. Locate drug-related information using appropriate sources. 1,2,3,4 50.00 End-of-Semester
No End of Module Formal Examination

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture 12 Weeks per Stage 1.00
Laboratory 12 Weeks per Stage 1.00
Estimated Learner Hours 15 Weeks per Stage 6.80
Total Hours 126.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture Per Semester 1.28
Independent Learning Time Per Semester 8.72
Total Hours 250.00
 

Module Delivered In

Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CW_SAPHA_C Higher Certificate in Science in Pharmacy Technician Studies 1 Mandatory