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Course Objectives

The course promotes and facilitates knowledge acquisition and understanding of the basic concepts of pharmacology and the use of drugs in therapeutics. Students are expected to

• familiarize themselves with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles, indications and side effects of the main pharmacologically active compounds used in medical practice
• associate drugs with pathological conditions, and prescribe the most appropriate medication in every case
• assess the comorbidities and the relevant drugs interactions
• understand, learn and describe the mechanism(s) of action and differences and similarities of the pharmacological characteristics (e.g. indications, specific adverse reactions, interactions) of the main active compounds of each drug class/subgroup covered in the course
• master the selection the appropriate medication, based on the therapeutic goal and the assessment of efficacy/safety and benefit/risk profiles, in order to achieve a meaningful outcome for the patient
• evaluate innovative medicines and comprehend the pharmacological and therapeutic advantages and disadvantages of modern drugs used in personalized medicine

General Educational Goals

Students should be able to

• critically evaluate key pharmacological aspects of therapeutics
• make correct decisions and communicate the choice of pharmacotherapy to the patient
• intergrade interdisciplinary approaches in solving clinical problems and interact with scientists from relevant fields
• acquire new knowledge in pharmacology, such as advancements in nanomedicines, biological agents, pharmacogenomics, personalized pharmacotherapy, etc
• read and understand scientific literature in pharmacology and related fields
• generate new ideas and design research and translational approaches in pharmacology and clinical treatments

General Competence

The course aims at the acquisition of the following general competencies and soft skills:

• Data analysis, synthesis and interpretation using the apprortiate information and communication technology (ICT)
• Problem solving, critical and reflective thinking and decision making
• Independent thinking, as well as teamwork
• Working in an interdisciplinary environment
• Creativity and generation of new research ideas
• Respect diversity, inclusion and equality
• Demonstration of social, ethical and professional behaviour
• Promotion of free, creative and deductive thinking

Course Syllabus

Basic principles of pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug effects and interactions, autonomic nervous system pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, medications to treat anemia, pulmonary pharmacology, anti-allergic agents, immunomodulatory agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioid and non-opioid analgesics, psychopharmacology, neuropharmacology, general and local anaesthetics, innovative drugs, biological agents and personalised pharmacotherapy.

Clinical training focuses on drug dosage and administration, decision-making in drug treatment, monitoring of adverse effects and interactions.

Instructional Methods

• Face-to-face lectures in English
• Use of computer and audiovisual methods in the classroom
• Students are divided into groups for clinical training
• Communication with students via e-class & e-mail

• Students are allowed to miss a maximum of 8 hours of lectures. In clinical training no absences are allowed

• In the event of an emergency or illness, students should notify the central administration promptly via e-mail to medicen[at]uoa.gr, as well as the secretariat of the course via e-mail to edu-pharmacology[at]med.uoa.gr

• All course materials and announcements are posted on e-class

Assessment Methods

• Attendance of lectures and clinical training is mandatory.
• Assessment is based on an end-of-semester final comprehensive written examination of the entire course content. The final written examination counts 100% of the final course grade. There is no mid-term exam, and no other activity contributes to the final grade.

• The final written exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) of graded difficulty. For the course to be considered completed, a grade of five (5) out of ten (10) or higher is required. MCQ scoring follows positive marking mechanism, i.e. each correct answer is rewarded with the pre-assigned point(s), whereas there is no penalty for unanswered questions and wrong answers. The sum of all correct answer points forms the final mark. A mark equal to the predetermined threshold of five (5) out of ten (10) is accepted as pass. Students unsuccessful in their first exam attempt are allowed to resit the exam according to the rules and regulations stated in the programme specifications.

• In very exceptional circumstances, there is the possibility of oral examination, involving the interaction of the student(s) with the course coordinator or/and appropriate examiner(s).

Recommended Textbooks

• Dale's Pharmacology Condensed

           3rd edition, 2021; Authors: Clive P. Page & Simon Pitchford; Publisher: Elsevier; ISBN: 978-0702078187

• Brenner and Stevens’ Pharmacology

           6th edition, 2023; Author: Craig W. Stevens; Publisher: Elsevier; ISBN-10: 0323758983 - ISBN-13: 978-0323758987

• Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

           14th edition, 2023; Editors: Laurence L. Brunton, Björn C. Knollmann; Publisher: McGraw Hill LLC; ISBN: 978-1264258079

Suggested articles or other free (or nearly free) resources

• Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Pharmacological Reviews
• Nature Reviews Drug Discovery