DOCUMENT ON TEACHING IN PHARMACOLOGY
According to the new decree on pharmaceutical education in Finland (issued 1.8.1994) the
lower academic degree in pharmacy, i.e. Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) is based on a three
year programme, while the higher academic degree in pharmacy, i.e. Master of Science in
Pharmacy (M.Sc. (Pharm.)) is based on a five-year programme. The degree of B.Pharm. is a part
of the degree M.Sc. (Pharm.). B.Pharm. qualifies for being an assistant (prescriptionist) in a
pharmacy, but not a head of a pharmacy.
The degree programme for B.Pharm. (total 120 credit units/study weeks) has the following
structure. One credit unit (cu) corresponds to 15-16 lecture hours or 30-40 hours of practical
training. In both cases an examination is included.
General studies (15 cu)
Subject related studies (69 cu)
Free-choice studies (3 cu)
Practical training (25 cu)
Seminars 2 (cu)
Examination work 6 (cu) in one of the following subjects: pharmacology, social pharmacy,
biopharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical technology
The degree programme for M.Sc. (Pharm.) (total 200 cu/study weeks) consists of the
following studies in addition to the B.Pharm. studies.
Compulsory subject-related studies (35 cu)
Optional subject-related studies (5 cu)
Advanced special studies (40 cu). Students choose one of the following as their main
subject: pharmacology, social pharmacy, biopharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy
or pharmaceutical technology
The Division of pharmacology and toxicology is responsible for organizing and teaching the following courses in pharmacology:
CURRICULUM IN PHARMACOLOGY
B. PHARM. DEGREE
STUDY PROGRAMME DRUG TREATMENT 14 CU (subject related-studies for
B.Pharm.)
Systematic pharmacology 7 cu
75 lecture hours + 80 hours group works and homeworks
Aims:
- to clarify the effects of drugs on biological systems (how drugs act) and what are the
aspects to be considered when using them
- the course covers basic concepts of pharmacology and most drug groups which have
clinical significance
- both pharmacodynamics and -kinetics are considered in the view of safe use of drugs
- the group work consists of clinical videos and videos, which simulate basic animal
models used in pharmacology. There are homeworks related to the videos. Interactive computer
programs are also used. Further, preclinical and clinical testing of drugs is shortly described.
Textbook: Koulu M, Tuomisto J, Paasonen MK (eds): Farmakologia ja toksikologia (Pharmacology and toxicology, 1100 pages in Finnish) Examination: three multiple choice question examinations, which have to be passed before the final examination
General pharmacology 1 cu
15 lecture hours
Aims:
- to clarify certain basic terms and concepts of pharmacology, like the types of receptors
and drug specificity
- to clarify the mechanisms involved in a pharmacological response produced by drug
molecules
Textbook: Koulu M, Tuomisto J, Paasonen MK (eds): Farmakologia ja toksikologia Examination: written
Toxicology 2 cu
30 lecture hours
Aims:
- to clarify harmful effects of drugs and certain chemicals, i.e. different types of drug
toxicity, general mechanisms of cell damage and death (hepato- and nephrotoxicity), mutagenesis,
carcinogenicity, teratogenesis and allergic reactions
- main emphasis is put on harmful effects caused by drug treatments
- treatments of some of the most common poisonings are described
Textbook: Koulu M, Tuomisto J, Paasonen MK (eds): Farmakologia ja toksikologia Examination: written
Pharmacotherapy 4 cu
20 hours seminars, 105 hours demonstrations, case practises and homeworks
Aims:
- prepare students for giving drug information
- seminars are given by clinical practitioners; subjects include e.g. pediatrics, geriatrics,
drug treatment during pregnancy, asthma, diabetes and dermatology.
- in demonstrations students practise following: measurement of blood pressure, rapid
diagnostic tests from urine and blood, auxiliary devices in treatment of asthma.
- case practices consist of simulation of real drug information situations about OTC and
prescription drugs; subjects include skin disorders, common cold, gastrointestinal disorders, drug
interaction.
Textbook: Nyman M, Parkkisenniemi U-M, Salminen O (eds): Farmakoterapian tilanneharjoituksia (Pharmacotherapy case practices) Examination: oral + written. Students prepare a patient counseling situation, which is videotaped and evaluated by teachers. They also answer a few written questions.
EXAMINATION WORK AND SEMINAR IN PHARMACOLOGY 8 CU
Examination work 6 cu
Students write pairwise a literature review on a given subject.
Seminar 2 cu
Students give an oral presentation about their own subject and attend at least 8
presentations given by other students.
M. SC. DEGREE
SUBJECT RELATED STUDIES FOR M.Sc. (Pharm.)
Compulsory courses:
Supplementary course in pharmacology 4 cu
30 lecture hours, 80 hours of practical classes and homework
Aims:
- lectures on methodology and biological standardization (15 h) clarify how drug effects
are studied by using different bioassays
- lectures on receptor and molecular pharmacology (15 h) clarify the molecular aspects of
drug effects, an emphasis put on computer aided interactive learning (Pharma-CAL-ogy software
package)
- practical classes include subjects like handling of laboratory animals, evaluation of
analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, effects of drugs on the central nervous system and testing
drug effects on the eye. In addition to performing experiments interactive computer programs are
used to clarify the subjects in groups of 8-12, students are introduced to a submission of a dossier
of a medicinal product, teachers acting as their tutors. Students will explore and choose
appropriate pharmacological methods to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fictitious drug designed
for a given indication. Students will also prepare a written summary of the preclinical
pharmacological and toxicological testing of their drug. Later there will be a seminar, in which
they give an oral presentation of their results.
Textbooks:
Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter JM (eds): Pharmacology
Koulu M, Tuomisto J, Paasonen MK (eds): Farmakologia ja toksikologia
Examination: written
Optional courses
Physiological and pathophysiological background of drug reseach 2 cu
Participation in autopsies
Aims:
- to give more profound knowledge in physiology in order to understand drug effects
Textbook:
Greene RJ, Norris ND (eds): Pathology and therapeutics for pharmacists: A basis for clinical
pharmacy practice
Examination: written
Propedeutical course on the methods used in the study of cellular mechanisms 1 cu
Aims:
- to introduce students to basics of rat anatomy, electrophoresis, confocal and electron
microscopy, tissue sectioning and staining, and cell culturing
Textbook:
Niemi M, Virtanen I, Vuorio E: Solu- ja molekyylibiologia (Cellular and molecular biology, 330
pages in Finnish, selected chapters)
Examination: written
ADVANCED STUDIES FOR M.Sc. (Pharm.) 40 cu
Students choosing pharmacology as their main subject take the following courses
(prepairing for examinations 3 cu)
Compulsory courses 4 cu
Biochemical basis of neuropharmacology 1 cu
20 lecture hours
Textbook: Cooper JR, Bloom FE, Roth RH: The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology
Examination: written
Selected aspects of clinical pharmacology 1 cu
20 lecture hours
Textbook: Speight TM (ed): Averys Drug Treatment selected chapters
Examination: written
Practical classes in pharmacology 5 cu
200 hours laboratory work include the following experiments
- handling of laboratory animals
- preparation of rats, insertion of cannulae into trachea, vein and artery, and measuring of
blood pressure
- assay of brain monoamines using HPLC with electrochemical detection
- introduction to receptor-binding technique
- demonstration of pharmacological in vitro experiments
- pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen in rat
- oral summary of a scientific article
- interactive computer programs (nuclear hormone receptors, uptake and transport systems,
tyrosine kinase receptors etc.)
Examination: Written reports about results obtained in the experiments
Seminars 2 cu
Every students gives two oral presentations: The first is about a drug molecule that has
recently been launched on the market in Finland. The second is about the research project of the
student. The student also attends 10 other seminars.
Supervised research in pharmacology 12 cu
The research project consists of 5 months of practical laboratory work. The project is
carried out in a group working at the Division or in collaborating laboratories. A written research
report constitutes a major part of the Masters thesis.
Masters thesis 12 cu
In addition to the research report the Masters thesis contains a literature review on a
given subject related to the research project.
Optional courses 2 cu
Drug toxicology, advanced level 1 cu
20 lecture hours
Textbook: Klaassen CD (ed): Casarett and Doulls Toxicology, The Basic Science of
Poisons, selected chapters
Examination: written
In addition to the pharmacology courses mentioned above the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology organizes a course in Human Biology and Health (6 cu), which constitutes a part of the B.Pharm. programme and includes basic anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and nutrition. Furthermore, the Division organizes an advanced course in physiology, which is one of the compulsory courses for M.Sc. (Pharm.) students with pharmacology as their main subject. The senior lecturer of social pharmacy works at the Division and is responsible for the study programme Drugs and Society (10 cu) and for several courses related to the general studies.