PHR2141 · Comprehensive care: Dermatology and pain

Overview

This unit provides the knowledge and skills required for the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients with dermatological and pain conditions. Specifically, the unit will cover common dermatological conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis, and pain disorders such as neuralgia, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This unit will relate the pathophysiology and epidemiology of these conditions with the rational design and use of medicines. The chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical aspects of medicines associated with each condition are presented in an integrated fashion. This unit will involve the development and consolidation of pharmacy relevant skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and oral and written communication skills. Drug and non-drug therapy principles for treating dermatological and pain conditions will be emphasized, enabling you to acquire the skills necessary to optimize patient outcomes in different cultural settings.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

In-semester assessments 50%: Final examination 50% This unit contains one or more competency hurdle assessment tasks that you must successfully complete to be able to pass the unit. You have one attempt, plus an additional assessment capped at 50% of the available marks for the task, to demonstrate your competency in the competency hurdle assessment task. If you fail to meet the hurdle requirement, you will receive a fail grade for the unit regardless of the total marks you achieve.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Describe how the structure and function of the body systems are affected by acute and chronic pain conditions, dermatological conditions such as acne and dermatitis, minor wounds and burns.
2. Describe the epidemiology and clinical aspects of the management for acute and chronic pain conditions and dermatological conditions such as acne and dermatitis, minor wounds and burns.
3. Describe the signs and symptoms, and diagnostic methods relevant to acute and chronic pain conditions, acne, dermatitis, minor wounds and burns.
4. Explain the chemistry and pharmacological mechanism of action of drugs used in treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions, acne, dermatitis, minor wounds and burns and predict how this leads to the treatment of disease and possible side effects.
5. List and prioritise drug and non-drug therapy options for the management of acute and chronic pain conditions, acne, dermatitis, minor wounds and burns.
6. Evaluate a patient's pain or dermatitis condition and create a complete, patient-specific care plan which applies established clinical guidelines and a comprehensive clinical review of potential drug-related problems.
7. Evaluate and justify when referral for medical assessment is required, with a particular emphasis on symptoms is indicative of referral.
8. Apply counselling strategies that provide support and optimise behavioural change for patients with pain and dermatitis conditions.
9. Using a multidisciplinary healthcare team approach, develop and implement appropriate clinical and communication strategies to treat pain and dermatitis conditions.

Workload

• Seventy-two hours of independent study • Twenty-four hours of pre-learning activities (up to 4 hours per week for 6 weeks) • Twenty-four hours of active learning applied sessions (2 hours per week for 6 weeks) • Twenty-four hours of small group classes including assessment (4 hours per week for 6 weeks)

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.