Pharmacology Concepts

Animal Anatomy and Physiology; Biochemistry.

To achieve the objectives of the course, the teaching methodologies are based on:

1.In the exposition by the teacher of contents related to the theoretical aspects of this unit

curriculum;

2. In the demonstration by the teacher of practices related to the curricular unit;

3. In the execution by the students of practices previously demonstrated by the teachers;

4. Guided bibliographic research on important topics for the course.

The learning objective of this Course Unit includes the introduction to pharmacology, namely in the main aspects related to the specific nomenclature of this topic, pharmacokinetics, the main drug groups, drug administration routes in different animal species and drug administration recommendations to animal owners.

1. Specific concepts and terminology.
2. Legal framework and regulatory bodies for medicines
3. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics;
4. Main groups of drugs:
4.1. Organotropic drugs;
4.2. Etiotropic drugs;
5. Pharmaceutical formulas
6. Drug administration routes:
6.1. enteric pathways.
6.2. parenteral routes;
7. Recommendations and dispensing of medication to animal owners and keepers

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

Continuous assessment will consist of 4 assessment components:

Instrument no. 1 [50%]
· Test 1: Written examination covering the content delivered in theoretical and practical classes during the first half of the semester.
Instrument no. 2 [20%]
· Test 2: Written examination covering the content delivered in theoretical and practical classes during the second half of the semester.
Instrument no. 3 [20%]
· P2 – Practical Laboratory Assessment: Determination of dosage and pharmacological administration practice.
Instrument no. 4 [10%]
· GE – Group Written Assignment: Clinical Case Presentation, including clinical description and pharmacological treatment.

A student will be approved through continuous assessment if they have met the minimum attendance requirement in practical classes (75%) and simultaneously fulfilled the following conditions:

1. A grade equal to or higher than 7.5 (out of 20) in each assessment instrument (1,2,3,4);
2. A weighted average grade equal to or higher than 9.5 (out of 20) across the different assessment instruments.

The final grade will be calculated according to the following formula: [(T1 + P1) × 0.5] + [T2 × 0.20] + [P2 × 0.20] + [GE × 0.10]

FINAL EXAM ASSESSMENT

The final exam assessment will consist of 4 assessment instruments:

Instrument no. 1 [50%]
· Test 1: Written examination covering the content delivered in theoretical and practical classes during the first half of the semester.
Instrument no. 2 [20%]
· Test 2: Written examination covering the content delivered in theoretical and practical classes during the second half of the semester.
Instrument no. 3 [20%]
· P2 – Practical Laboratory Assessment: Determination of dosage and pharmacological administration practice.
Instrument no. 4 [10%]
· IE – Individual Written Assignment: Clinical Case Presentation, including clinical description and pharmacological treatment.

The final grade will be calculated according to the following formula: [(T1 + P1) × 0.5] + [T2 × 0.20] + [P2 × 0.20] + [IE × 0.10]

NOTE: 

Students who do not achieve approval through periodic assessment may choose one of the following modalities for the final assessment:

Modality 1: Completion of all assessment components, thereby forfeiting all grades previously obtained in periodic assessment. Under this modality, the student will be deemed approved when the weighted average of the grades obtained across all assessment components is equal to or greater than 9.5 points.

Modality 2: Completion only of those assessment components in which the student obtained a grade lower than 7.5 points. Under this modality, the student will be deemed approved when both of the following conditions are met:

• a) each assessment component completed (whether during periodic assessment or in the final assessment) has a grade equal to or greater than 7.5 points;
• b) the weighted average of the grades obtained across all assessment components is equal to or greater than 9.5 points.

Students whose periodic assessment grades are all equal to or greater than 7.5 points, but whose weighted average is below 9.5 points, must select Modality 1.

NAO