Duration
35h PCL
Number of credits
| Veterinary surgeon | 1 crédit |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This teaching unit is designed to make students aware of the importance of pharmacotherapeutic decision-making in a range of professional situations.
The activity is mainly based on group discussions, role-playing scenarios, and the preparation of a final presentation setting out the therapeutic proposals developed by the participants.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The first objective of this module is to teach students how to integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during the first four blocks into a reflective and methodological process that will enable them to make better pharmacotherapeutic decisions. This process will encourage them to consider the different options in a conscious and reasoned way, taking into account the various parameters of the situation, not only medical, but also ethical, legal, societal, psychological, and economic.
The second objective is to train students to use the tools of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) in a professional context. By the end of the module, participants should be able to:
- search for information and critically filter scientific publications;
- demonstrate critical thinking towards information provided in laboratory advertisements or scientific publications;
- understand the concept of bias and random error in publications;
- use EBM in their decision-making practice;
- synthesise key elements and explain their final decisions;
- present the outcome of their reflection to their peers.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
All the disciplines taught during the first four years of the curriculum must be integrated into the decision-making process, with their relative importance varying according to the situation. Specific tools, such as literature searching, Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), and proficiency in English, are essential to this learning process.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
General organisation
The activities are spread over two weeks in the programme. They consist of supervised group work, with some sessions carried out independently.
Activities planned for the first week
Students will be welcomed with a presentation of the module, highlighting its objectives as well as the specific expectations related to this teaching unit. A review of the main concepts of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) will then be provided, emphasising the importance of integrating acquired knowledge into therapeutic decision-making.
Students will be trained to:
- recognise bias and random error in scientific literature;
- conduct critical analyses of scientific publications as well as pharmaceutical advertising;
- integrate evidence into therapeutic decision-making, using concrete examples of pharmacotherapeutic options based on EBM.
Activities planned for the second week
Each group will manage a case study independently. A role-playing exercise with an owner will be organised on the first day of the week. Based on the case provided, the group will be required to propose a treatment plan by applying the skills acquired during the first week.
Students will receive guidance from supervisors, who will monitor the process regularly without interfering with the group's proposals.
On Friday of the second week (or Thursday if Friday is a public holiday), each group will present its reasoning and proposals to a panel of experts composed of supervisors and, where applicable, a practitioner, in the presence of the other group. This presentation will take the form of an oral report.
Remediation
At the end of the second week, any shortcomings may be addressed through an optional remediation assignment, which will take into account the feedback and recommendations given by the supervisors.
Students will have one month to submit this written work (in PPT or Word format). Specific instructions will be provided according to the weaknesses identified. The work must be sent by email to Sophie.ElAbbas@uliege.be and will be subject to an additional assessment.
Evaluation
The final grade, taken into account for the granting of exemption, will be based on:
- the student's engagement during the activities;
- the assessment of the presentations;
- the corrections made as part of the remediation.
The decision-making process will be assessed by all members of the teaching team, including external practitioners. The assessment criteria are set out in the grid available at eCampus.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Learning activities take place on site, and attendance is compulsory for all sessions. Detailed organisational information is provided to students at the beginning of the first week.
Interactions with supervisors and certain follow-up sessions may, in exceptional cases, be conducted remotely via videoconference.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Required matérials
- Learning module on pharmacotherapeutic decision-making - Handbook (document available on eCampus)
-
Materials used during the two weeks: scientific articles available on eCampus
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Assessment procedures and exemptions
An exemption from the end-of-year examination may be granted if the student obtains a mark equal to or greater than 10/20 for the work carried out at the end of the two-week module.
This mark takes into account:
- the student's engagement during the activities;
- the assessment of the presentations;
- any corrections made in the framework of the remediation work.
If a student obtains a mark below 10/20, they are required to sit a written examination in the first session and, if unsuccessful, in the second session.
Attendance and absences
Attendance at all sessions is compulsory and, where applicable, conditions access to the first and second session examinations.
- In the case of a justified absence, the student must complete an additional exercise related to their group's work. This must be submitted to the supervisors within two weeks after the end of the module (contact: Sophie.ElAbbas@uliege.be);
? Failure to submit this work will result in the absence being considered unjustified. - An unjustified delay of more than 30 minutes will be treated as an unjustified absence;
- In the case of a justified absence from the final-day presentation, the student must present the group's work individually on a date agreed with the supervisors. An individual mark will then be awarded;
? Failure to present will result in the absence being considered unjustified. - In the case of an unjustified absence, the weekly mark will be invalidated.
Construction of the final score
The grade awarded for the work completed at the end of the two weeks is based on:
- the student's engagement during the activities;
- the assessment of the presentations;
- the corrections made during remediation.
The decision-making process is assessed by the teaching team, substitutes and/or their representatives. The assessment criteria are set out in the marking grid available on eCampus.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Practical information
The meeting on the first day of the first week is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.
On Monday morning, students will gather either in Seminar Room 1/73 (B41), located opposite the modules (access via the library), or directly in the modules opposite. On subsequent days, the teaching rooms may vary during the year. Full information on room allocation is available via Celcat.
During the second scheduled week, activities will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Students are asked to bring their personal laptop, if they have one, for use throughout the two weeks.
Contacts
Sophie El Abbas
Sophie.ElAbbas@uliege.be
Catherine Delguste
cdelguste@uliege.be