Rational therapeutic choices (Introduction to evidence-based medicine and pharmacoeconomy)

wfarm2196  2019-2020  Bruxelles Woluwe

Rational therapeutic choices (Introduction to evidence-based medicine and pharmacoeconomy)
Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
4 credits
30.0 h + 10.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Dujardin Nathalie; Henrard Séverine; Spinewine Anne (coordinator);
Language
French
Main themes
- Evidence-based medicine: basic principles; primary and secondary sources of information: methodology and critical appraisal; - Methodology of experimental and observational studies relative to the efficacy and safety of medicines, and critical appraisal; - Methodology of secondary sources of information (systematic reviews, meta-analysis, clinical guidelines), and critical appraisal - Basic principles in pharmacoeconomy and applications to pharmacotherapy - Basic principles relative to health insurance, and to economic factors influencing the use of medicines in Belgium and in Europe
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1
  • To understand the concept of clinical evidence and the value of data from the scientific literature and from other sources of information (SmPC ; recommendations from scientific and regulatory bodies ; informtaion from pharmaceutical companies, etc) ;
  • To understand the concept of recommendations from clinical guidelines, and the way to use such recommendations in clinical practice;
  • To search for information from the littérature in order to answer a specific question raised by a healthcare professional or by a patient; to critically appraise the information collected
  • To understand the main concepts of the Belgian social security ; to understand the basic principles of pharmacoeconomics and how these concepts can contribute to rational therapeutic decisions ; to apply these principles to guide decisions relative to the reimbursment of medicines in Belgium ; to delineate one’s profession and role in our society and towards patients.
 

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
Part 1. Evidence-based medicine
- basic principles of evidence-based medicine; Primary sources of information (experimental and observational studies); secondary and tertiary sources of information (systematic reviews, meta-analysis, clinical practice guidelines, consesus meetings, other sources of information); drug advertising.
- each part is adressed according to the following questions: what is the evidence? Where can I find them ? How to analyze them critically ?
Part 2. Pharmacoeconomy
Introduction to the Belgian health care system; principles and methods in pharmacoeconomy and in health economic evaluation; drug reimbursement and pricing in Belgium.
Teaching methods
This course includes a mixed approach including lectures, some homework (reading, online exercises), and participation in face-to-face seminars. Teachers pay special attention to making as much as possible the link between theory and practice by illustrating their statements with up-to-date examples concerning different types of drugs.
Evaluation methods
The assessment of learning achievements involves 2 components:
  1. The completion of the online exercises, the participation in the seminars and the results of the simulation test contribute to a part of the evaluation and of the final mark
  2. A written exam with theoretical as well as practical questions relating to the different parts of the course. The skills relating to searching information are assessed through practical questions where the student uses a computer with access to the sources of information seen in the course.
Other information
The participation to the seminars and online exercises is mandatory to validate the course.
Any unjustified absence leads to a penalty on the examination mark that may go up to a cancellation of the examination mark for the academic year (0.20).
In case of repeated absences, even justified, the teacher can propose to the jury to object to the registration to the course examination in accordance with Article 72 of the RGEE.
Faculty or entity
FARM


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [120] in Pharmacy

Master [120] in Statistic: Biostatistics