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Course Objectives

The course promotes and facilitates knowledge acquisition and understanding of the application of pharmacological concepts in clinical practice.

Students are expected to

• familiarize themselves with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, indications and side effects of the main pharmacologically active compounds covered in the course
• learn and understand established pharmacological options, new cutting-edge technologies and advanced tools used in the management of common conditions, such as infections and serious diseases, such as cancer
• learn the principles of good drug prescribing
• understand and explain the pharmacological concepts and/or criteria used in drug selection and identify the limitations, focusing on indicative clinical cases discussed in the course
• learn the basic clinical and economic aspects of drug testing and use

General Educational Goals

Students should be able to

• critically evaluate key pharmacological aspects of therapeutics
• intergrade the pharmacological properties of medications in clinical settings
• comprehend and appreciate the importance of pharmacology in the optimal use of medications to cure, treat, diagnose or prevent a disease
• provide a rational for drug prescribing and communicate the choice of pharmacotherapy to relevant stakeholders
• identify the advantages and limitations of cutting-edge technologies and advanced tools exploited in clinical pharmacology
• read and understand scientific literature in clinical pharmacology and related fields
• generate new ideas on translational approaches in drug clinical testing and use

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

Endocrine pharmacology, pharmacology of the gastrointestinal system, use of drugs in subjects with renal and hepatic impairement, chemotherapy and targeted pharmacotherapy of neoplastic diseases, chemotherapy of infectious diseases (antibiotics, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic agents), drug hypersensitivity reactions-drug allergy, pharmacotherapy in children, evidence-based and individualised clinical pharmacology, precision pharmacotherapy, newer small molecule drugs, nanovaccines, introduction to pharmacoeconomics and health technology assessment.

Clinical Pharmacology training focuses on the presentation, discussion and critical evaluation of indicative cases relevant to drug treatment decision making, prescribing, clinical trials and drug approval.

Instructional Methods

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

• Students are allowed to miss a maximum of 8 hours of lectures. In clinical pharmacology 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 pharmacology 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

• 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

• 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: 978-0323758987

Suggested articles or other free (or nearly free) resources

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