Medication of the Old People (5 cr)

Objective

The Students

• are able to describe the different methods of giving medicine and their correct handling
• are able to explain the basic principles for the implementation of safe medical treatment for older people
• identify challenges related to medical treatment in older people
• are able to explain the typical side effects, adverse effects and combined influences associated with medicine for the older people
• perform the calculations required for pharmacotherapy
• are able to describe the meanings of customer-oriented guidance and counselling related to pharmacotherapy
• are able to carry out medical treatment for older people in accordance with the rights conferred by the training

Content

• laws and guidelines related to pharmaceutical services and pharmacotherapy, as well as area of responsibilities
• medical treatment plans
• groups of medicines, medical forms, treatment and administration methods
• storing and procuring medicine
• medical treatment of the most common diseases for older people
• mode of action and the combined influence of medical products
• basic principles of safe medical treatment for older people
• guidance and counselling for the older people and their close ones
• medication laboratory
• pharmaceutical arithmetic

Location and time

The teaching lectures will primarily be conducted as contact teaching. Please always check the calendar for the dates of the classes, as changes may be possible. The course hours can be found in the timetable.

For laboratory teaching, students will be divided into two groups: A and B. The lab groups will be announced later at the beginning of the course.

Note: If there are only a small number of registered students, the laboratory teaching will be held in a single group. This will be confirmed at the start of the course.

Materials

Drug calculation:
- Pussinen - Somerharju - Hannula: Lääkelaskut ammattikorkeakouluihin tai muu soveltuva lääkelaskujen oppikirja

Pharmacology and pharmacotherapy:
- Saano & Taam-Ukkonen. 2018 tai uudempi painos 2023 (tai vanhempi painos, jos uutta ei ole saatavilla). Turvallisen lääkehoidon perusteet.

Lecture materials and online assignments
Other materials to be announced at the start of the course

Teaching methods

Lectures
Independent work
Teamwork
Drug Calculations
Laboratory learning
Exams

Employer connections

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Exam schedules

The course includes:
Drug calculation exam (In addition to the regular exam, there are 2 retakes.)
Pharmacotherapy exam (In addition to the regular exam, there are 2 retakes and 1 opportunity for an improvement exam, which must be taken during the first retake. The number of the retaken exam cannot be improved.)

Pharmacotherapy exam period:
Exam period: 10th – 17th February 2025
The exam will be taken in the EXAM exam system in the exam aquarium. The exam can be found in the exam system using the course identifier.
1st retake and improvement exam for the medication treatment exam: 10th – 17th March 2025
2nd retake for the medication treatment exam (no possibility for improvement): 7th – 14th April 2025

Drug calculation exam period begins after the course’s medication calculation teaching.
The exam can be found in the exam system using the course identifier.

If the drug calculation exam needs to be retaken, a personal exam link for the retake will be sent to those who need it. This will be provided once the first regular exam has been graded. The exam link will be sent to the student’s email.

The student must familiarize themselves with the EXAM instructions and follow the guidelines in the EXAM exam system as well as in the exam aquarium.
https://oma.metropolia.fi/henkilokunnalle/strategia-ja-kehityspalvelut/digitalisaatio/ohjelmistojen-ohjeet/exam/exam-opiskelijoille

International connections

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Completion alternatives

Recognition of prior learning (AHOT) decision must be made before the course begins.

For students who have received aRecognition of prior learning (AHOT): If you register for the course, the exams used to demonstrate your prior learning must be completed during the course you are registered for.

Student workload

The course workload is 5 ECTS credits. For the student, 1 ECTS credit corresponds to 27 hours of work, meaning that for 5 ECTS credits, 135 hours of work are required. This is equivalent to 3.3 full working weeks.

The course workload has been calculated as follows: 1 ECTS credit for contact teaching, and 4 ECTS credits for online courses, other course assignments, and exam preparation.

Content scheduling

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Further information

Participation in laboratory teaching is mandatory

If a student has a decision for special support that affects the completion of the course, the student must contact the teacher immediately after the course registration period ends or at the latest when the course begins.

Artificial intelligence can be utilized for brainstorming in written assignments, but it should not be used as a substitute for independent thinking and writing. Editing the language and style of self-produced text is permitted, but generating entire texts using AI is not allowed. If you use AI, its use must be transparently disclosed. Failure to disclose the use of AI will be considered misconduct. When using AI, please familiarize yourself with Metropolia's guidelines for AI usage and take responsibility for adhering to these guidelines.

The assignments and MATERIALS prepared by the teacher are works in accordance with the Copyright Act (404/61) for which the teacher has copyright. Assignments AND MATERIALS may not be used except in their own studies. Their public distribution is only allowed with the permission of the teacher.

If the distance learning is needed, see more details on the processing of personal data related to the implementation of distance learning and the systems, software, IT applications and electronic tools used in the processing of personal data: https://www.metropolia.fi/fi/metropoliasta/tietosuoja-ja-gdpr/tietosuojaselosteet/metropolian-opiskelija-ja-opintotietorekisteri

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Assessment criteria see the attachment of the curriculum
The course instructor will specify the criteria in the beginning of the course

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Assessment criteria see the attachment of the curriculum
The course instructor will specify the criteria in the beginning of the course

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Assessment criteria see the attachment of the curriculum
The course instructor will specify the criteria in the beginning of the course

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Assessment criteria see the attachment of the curriculum
The course instructor will specify the criteria in the beginning of the course

Assessment methods and criteria

Approved drug calculation exam pass/fail
Pharmacotheraphy exam, numeric assessment 0-5
Approved virtual-courses and other assignments in Moodle: pass/fail
Laboratory teaching (100% attendance required): pass/fail

Overall grade for the course: 0-5

For students who have received Recognition of prior learning (AHOT), the course exams will be evaluated as pass/fail.