Clinical Pharmacology
Code: 106697Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | OB | 5 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Caridad Pontes Garcia
- Email :
- caridad.pontes@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Maria Antonieta Agusti Escasany
- Antonio Vallano Ferraz
- Rosa María Antonijoan Arbos
- Eva Montane Esteva
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
It is absolutely necessary to have achieved sufficient knowledge in general pharmacology.
It is advisable that the student has achieved basic skills in pathophysiology and clinical semiology.
Objectives
The subject is scheduled in the fifth year of the Bachelor of Medicine, when knowledge of general pathology and the etiology, clinical features and diagnosis of the main diseases and syndromes have already been achieved. The student already has knowledge of the principles of general pharmacology and knows the major groups of drugs, their mechanism of action and the main desired and unwanted effects.
The training objectives of the subject consist of providing the elements to learn to select the most appropriate treatment for each individual patient through a reasoned process that involves assessing the efficacy, toxicity, convenience and cost of each available option. Additionally, it aims to provide information on the dynamics of drugs in society, from the search for new molecules to the approval and funding decisions by health authorities, and pharmacovigilance after marketing, as well as providing the necessary elements to be able to critically assess information on new drugs that are being marketed.
The theoretical knowledge of the subject is complemented by practical activities on the rational prescription and administration of medications, selection of treatments in patients with common pathologies, critical evaluation of information on new medications, and identification and assessment of suspected adverse drug reactions in specific patients.
Learning outcomes
- Describe the main genetic, sexual, age, lifestyle, environmental, social, economic, psychological and cultural factors that may modify the therapeutic and toxic response of a drug.
- Gather and communicate the data on the pharmacological anamnesis.
- Identify the role of drugs in current and future therapy.
- Identify the methods for evaluating the efficacy and safety of a pharmacological intervention.
- Describe the concept of risk-benefit in medical therapy.
- Explain the principles of good prescription.
- Define the problem, establish the therapeutic objectives, select treatment according to evidence of efficacy and safety, establish cost and advantages, prescribe and monitor the results.
- Promote the rational use of medication and health products.
- Correctly write medical prescriptions that are suited to the situation of each patient and meet legal requirements.
- Inform patients of their treatment plan.
- Identify methods to facilitate adherence to prescribed treatments.
- Use manual methods and new information search technologies.
- Describe information systems on medication and therapies to professionals and consumers and describe their regulation.
- Maintain and sharpen one's professional competence, in particular by independently learning new material and techniques and by focusing on quality.
- Organise and plan time and workload in professional activity.
- Be able to work in an international context.
- Formulate hypotheses and compile and critically assess information for problem-solving, using the scientific method.
- Communicate clearly, orally and in writing, with other professionals and the media.
- Define the concepts of pharmacology and clinical pharmacology and know their divisions.
- Identify the main sources of information on medication, therapeutics and clinical pharmacology: primary, secondary and tertiary.
- Know the methods of dose adjustment and calculate the dosage of drugs in different physiological and pathological conditions.
- Define social pharmacology and medication and drug abuse.
- Identify the medication registration process and the legal regulation of medication.
- Describe pharmacoepidemiology and the main types of medication epidemiology studies.
- Describe the main types of alternative medicines.
- Know the principles of homeopathy, acupuncture and phytotherapy.
- Apply the scientific method to the alternative medicines.
- Describe the basis for the selection and prescription of drugs in cardiovascular , respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological, rheumatological, allergic disease, in infections, the treatment of acute and chronic pain, mental disorders, palliative care and in acute intoxication from the most common drugs in primary healthcare.
- Identify an infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological, rheumatological and osteoarticular pathology induced by medication.
- Describe the principal intoxications caused by medication and drugs.
- Explain the main sources of information on medication and know how to use new search technologies.
- Identify the main sources of information on therapeutics and clinical pharmacology.
- Determine the importance of self-medication.
Contents
Distributive blocks
1. General clinical pharmacology. Medicines for human use. Information sources. New drug research methods. The clinical trial. Methodological and ethical aspects. Evaluation of the effects of medicines. Adverse reactions and interactions. Use of medicines in special populations (pregnancy, childhood and old age; kidney and heart failure). Social pharmacology. Principles of pharmacoeconomics.
2. Specific clinical pharmacology - Rational use of medicines in the main pathological processes treated in primary care: selection and prescription of medicines, and other therapeutic considerations.
Directed activities: Theory lectures (28 hours)
Theory lectures - General part
T1: Introduction to clinical and therapeutic pharmacology. Medicines for human use.
T2: Sources of information in clinical pharmacology.
T3: Development of medicines: scientific, methodological, bioethical and legal aspects. placebo effect
T4: Clinical trials of medicines and their methodological basis (1).
T5: Clinical trials of medicines and their methodological basis (2).
T6: Clinical pharmacokinetics and dose adjustment. Evaluation of the action and effect of medicines.
T7: Pharmacological interactions of clinical interest and interactions between medicines and other compounds.
T8: Adverse drug reactions and pharmacovigilance.
T9: Pharmacoepidemiology.
T10: Use of medicines in the health system and its economic implications.
T11: Abuse and dependence on medicines and drugs.
T12: Clinical pharmacology in pregnancy and childhood.
T13: Clinical pharmacology in the elderly.
T14: Clinical pharmacology of renal, hepatic and other pathological processes.
T15: Pharmacogenetics.
T16: Good practices in prescribing medicines. Legal regulation of prescription and types of prescriptions: prescriptions and medical orders. co-payment
Theory lectures - Specific part
T17: Introduction to the rational use of antibiotics.
T18: Therapeutics in cardiovascular diseases.
T19: Therapeutics of psychiatric pathologies.
T20: Introduction to pain management.
T21: Therapeutics in respiratory pathology.
T22: Therapeutics in digestive pathology.
T23: Therapeutics in genitourinary pathology.
T24: Regulation of fertility.
T25: Therapeutics in osteoarticular pathology.
T26: The oncological patient in primary care.
T27: Principles of selection and appropriate use of medicines used in elderly patients.
T28: Wrap-up and conclusions
Directed activities: Clinical case seminars (SCC) (12 seminar sessions, 34 hours)
SCC - General part: general considerations on the use of drugs
SCC 1: Adverse drug reactions and pharmacovigilance. (2 hours). Resources: CC-Q
SCC 2: Clinical trials of drugs and their methodological basis. Placebo effect. (3 hours). Resources: Article to read and comment. Q
SCC 3: The process of drug selection. (3 hours) Resources: CC-Q
SCC 4: Prescription of medicines and the health system. Advertising and the media. (3 hours) Resources: Newspaper news. Q
SCC 5: Gender perspective in clinical pharmacology. (3 hours). Resources: Internet access. Articles. Q
SCC 6: Alternative Medicines (2 hours) Resources: CC-GT-Q
SCC - Specific part: Therapeutic Considerations and Rational Use of Medications in Primary Care
SCC 7: Selection and Prescription of Antibiotics in Urinary Tract Infection and Pneumonia (3 hours) Resources: CC-Q
SCC 8: Selection and Prescription in Cardiovascular Disease (3 hours) Resources: CC-GT-Q
SCC 9: Selection and Prescription in Respiratory Disease (3 hours) Resources: CC-GT-Q
SCC 10: Selection and Prescription in Diabetes Mellitus (3 hours) Resources: CC-GT-Q
SCC 11: Selection and Prescription in Psychiatric Illnesses and Dementias (3 hours) Resources: CC-GT-Q
SCC 12: Selection and Prescription in Pain Management (3 hours) Resources: CC-GT-Q
Directed activities – Advanced clinical simulation practices (PSCA) (2 sessions, 5 hours)
PSCA 1: Prescription of medicines and information to the patient. Administration and administration instructions. Dose adjustment. (2 hours) Resources: SRA
PSCA 2: Pharmacological anamnesis and assessment of treatment adherence. Review of the medication plan and the achievement of therapeutic goals. Reconciliation and prescription of medication. (3 hours) Resources: SRA
T = Theory lecture (1 hour). SCC = Clinical Cases Seminar (2 or 3 hours). PPT = Powerpoint Presentation; C-GT-Q = Clinical case, treatment guidelines and questionnaire. PSCA = Advanced clinical simulation practice (in humans) (2 or 3 hours) SRA: Structured Reflective Assessment.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous learning | 75 | 3 | |
| Clinical Case Seminars | 34 | 1.36 | |
| Advanced clinical simulation | 5 | 0.2 | |
| Theory sessions | 28 | 1.12 |
General methodology:
Subject credits: 6 ECTS = 150 hours
AUTONOMOUS WORK (50% total = 75 hours).
Comprehensive reading of texts and articles, study and creation of diagrams, summary and conceptual assimilation of the contents.
Prior preparation of the clinical case seminars, with reading of the preparatory materials and, when appropriate (according to what is established by each unit) preparation of the presentations and assignments.
DIRECTED LEARNING: 67 hours
Theory lectures (TE typology). Group Size: full course group. 28 scheduled sessions (1 hour per session).
Clinical Case Seminar Practices (SCC) Group size: 20 students. Scheduled sessions: 10 sessions of 3 hours and 2 sessions of 2 hours. The students, in small groups, will discuss typical clinical cases, under the direction of a tutor.
Advanced clinical simulation practices: PSCA typology (12 students per group). Scheduled sessions: 2 sessions (1 2-hour session and 1 3-hour session). Practices simulating clinical situations that require the presence of 2 teachers.
EVALUATION (5% total = 8 hours): 2 partial exams and 1 final synthesis exam; continuous evaluation of the seminars.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continued evaluation through practical cases and problem solving | 30% | 4 | 0.16 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 27, 31, 33 |
| Written tests using objective measurements | 70% | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32 |
Evaluation
The evaluation system will be based on a theoretical evaluation (two tests weighing 35% each, thus accounting for 70% of the final mark) and a practical evaluation (30% of the final mark).
Theoretical evaluation:
Two separate partial tests will be scheduled that will be eliminatory if the grade obtained is higher than 5.0. Thus, each test is weighing 35% of the final mark.
The partial evaluation will be through test-type questions. The tests will be multiple-choice with 5 options and only one correct answer, where errors are discounted by 0.20. The exams may include other types of questions in a complementary and optional way, at the discretion of the teaching unit. If applied, this option will be described in the specific program of the subject in each teaching unit at the beginning of the year. The lessons and seminars that will be included in each partial will be communicated via Campus Virtual.
- First partial. Students who obtain a grade equal to or higher than 5.0 out of 10.0, will be passing these subjects.
- Second partial. Students who obtain a grade equal to or higher than 5.0 out of 10.0, will be passing these subjects.
Students not passing one or both of the partial exams have the chance to undergo a synthesis exam that will include the material of all theoretical lessons and seminars. According to the UAB rules, thye student should have undertaken at least 65% of the evaluative activities in order to be able to access the synthesis exam. The synthesis exam will include test-type questions, with the option of incorporating other types of questions in a complementary and optional way, at the discretion of the teaching unit. If applied, this option will be described in the specific program of the subject in each teaching unit at the beginning of the year.
- Students who have passed the first partial may choose to examine only the questions correspondingto the second partial. They will need to get a grade equal to or higher than 5.0 out of 10.0 in this test to pass the subject.
- Students who have passed the second partial may choose to examine only the questions on the subject corresponding to the first partial. They will need to get a grade equal to or higher than 5.0 out of 10.0 in this test to pass the subject.
- Students who have not passed any of the two partials will have to take the full final exam; for these students, it will be necessary to get a grade equal to or higher than 4.0 out of 10.0 in each of the two parts of the exam to be able to average them.
Practical evaluation:
Attendance at 80% of SCCs and all PSCAs is mandatory. According to the particularities of each Hospital Teaching Unit (HTU), the practices/seminars can be graded through continuous evaluation. Continuous evaluation will be specified in the program of each HTU; in some HTU, complementary activities will be considered. In all clinical case seminars, a competency assessment will be carried out. This can include the preparation, participation and contribution to the sessions, using a rubric; or a short written assessment (question or short or test-type questions) at the end of the seminar, or the result of individual or group interactive tests. The modality will depend on the type of seminar and set at the discretion of the responsible teacher, but at the beginning of the seminar, the method of assessment will be always communicated ahead.
**The theoretical content of the seminars can be evaluated as part of the theoretical tests. There will be no formal assessment with numerical grading of simulation practices.
Students not passing the partial tests and/or, having met the required attendance, not passing the practical part, can undertake the synthesis test, that will contain a theoretical part and a practical part.
Final qualification
The final grade is the weighted average of the theoretical knowledge (70%) and the evaluation of the SCC and PSCA (30%). It will not be possible to take the average between the theoretical assessment and the practical assessment if a minimum score of 5/10 is not obtained in both parts. In case of not being able to do the average, the final qualification will correspond to the lowest quantitative value among those obtained in the theoretical and practical evaluations.
Non-evaluable: Students who do not take both the theoretical and practical evaluation tests will be considered "Not Assessable", exhausting their inscription rights for the subject.
Irregularities in assessment activities: Any irregularity committed during an assessment activity (including academic fraud, plagiarism, or the improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant alteration of the assessment result will result in that assessment being awarded a mark of 0 (Fail). Where the course guide establishes that obtaining a minimum mark in that assessment activity is an essential requirement to pass the course, or where multiple irregularities are committed in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0 (Fail). In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.
Single evaluation: This subject does not apply the single evaluation system.
Artificial intelligence: In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as an integral part of coursework, provided that the final submission demonstrates a substantial contribution from the student in terms of analysis and critical reflection. Students must clearly identify which parts of their work have been generated using AI, specify the tools employed, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced both the process and the final outcome of the assignment. Failure to disclose the use of AI will be regarded as a breach of academic integrity and may result in a penalty to the assessment grade or, in serious cases, more severe disciplinary sanctions
Bibliography
- Flórez, J, Avendaño, C, Mediavilla, Á. Farmacología Humana. 7ª Edición. Editorial Elsevier, Barcelona, 2025.
- Lorenzo, P.; Moreno, A.; Leza, J.; Lizasoain, I.; Moro, M.; Portolés, A. Velázquez farmacología básica y clínica - 20ª ed. - Panamericana, Madrid, 2025.
- Ritter JM, Flower R, Henderson G, Kong Loke Y, MacEwan D. Rang y Dale Farmacología. 9a ed. Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2020.
- Wecker L (ed.) Brody's Human Pharmacology. Molecular to clinical. 6th ed. Mosby Elsevier, Canadà, 2018.
- Jordi Vilaseca Canals, Jordi Espinàs Boquet (Eds). Guía terapéutica en atención primaria : basada en la selección razonada de medicamentos - 8ª ed. - Semfyc, Barcelona, 2022. (Material relacionat: El blog de la guia terapèutica [Internet]: http://www.guiaterapeuticablog.com/)
- Daniel García Gil (Ed). Terapéutica médica en urgencias - 6ª ed. -Médica Panamericana, Madrid, 2020.
- Brunton L, Lazo J, Parker K (Eds.). Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed. Mc Graw Hill, Nova York, 2022.
- Baños JE, Farré M. Principios de Farmacología clínica, Masson, Barcelona, 2002
Software
No specific software will be used.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE