ObjectivesThese courses are designed specifically for those who wish to gain expertise in the practical management of toxicological problems. They are taught at the Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology at Cardiff School of Medicine.
The Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology has a major clinical, teaching and research role, with particular expertise in clinical and medical toxicology. The department directs the National Poisons Information Service (Cardiff) which advises health professionals throughout the United Kingdom and (with colleagues in the Welsh Medicines Information Centre) Yellow Card Centre (YCC) Wales, a Regional Monitoring Centre working with the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). General (Internal) Medicine is an integral part of the department's medical role and the department also provides specialist services for patients with toxicological problems, including suspected drug allergies.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements:
The courses are open to the following health care professionals:
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Medical personnel: particularly clinical pharmacologists in training, specialist registrars in Accident and Emergency Medicine and other disciplines and those seeking a career in , or who are already members of, the pharmaceutical industry or government regulatory bodies.
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Other healthcare professionals, including hospital and community pharmacists and those with a degree in a subject within Life Sciences. Individuals seeking a career in the governmental regulatory bodies or the pharmaceutical or chemical industry should also find the course valuable.
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Non-medical scientists, particularly those working in, or considering applying to, the UK and Irish Poisons Information Services.
During the three-term course, a detailed structured programme of learning is provided, with the course divided into six main (5-week) modules. Most of the educational content is problem-orientated and is specifically designed to be of direct practical relevance.
There are several different integrated components to the course structure. These courses take advantage of home and practice-based learning techniques. Delivery is via the internet through the electronic medium of Blackboard. There is weekly reading with copies of, or links to, key articles and there are interviews with experts. There are also regular clinical exercises to be completed which provide the basis of in-course assessment. These are reviewed by the course supervisors, and feedback is given during the course.
Assessment is partly by continual assessment of regular written work and partly by the final examination, which is held in Cardiff.
Each week:
* A different aspect of medical toxicology is studied
* A "Study Aims" to guide your work for the week are given
* A Relevant articles are provided or linked
* An interview is supplied covering the week's topic
* There is a case study and written task concerning the topic being studied
Module Information
Each week a different subject is studied. Within the six main modules of the Diploma there are thirty topics.
* Module 1: Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance - Drug Development and Drug Safety; Adverse Drug Reactions; Drug Interactions; Pharmacogenetics; Topical, Herbal, Homeopathic and OTC Medication
* Module 2: Mechanisms of Toxicity - Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics; Mechanisms of Toxicity; Carcinogenesis; Reproductive Toxicology; Risk Assessment and Risk Management
* Module 3: Major Toxins - Analgesics; Antidepressants; Pschoactive Drugs; Drugs affecting the autonomic system; Animal and Plant Toxins
* Module 4: Management and Prevention of Toxicity - Diagnosis of Poisoning; Management of Poisoning (1); Management of Poisoning (2); Antidotes; Prevention of Poisoning
* Module 5: Poisoning and Toxicovigilance - Regulatory Toxicology; Classification and Epidemiology of Poisoning; Industrial Toxicology (1); Industrial Toxicology (2); Forensic Toxicology
* Module 6: Occupational and Environmental Toxicology - Risks in the Environment (1); Risks in the Environment (2); Pesticides; How to Manage a Chemical Incident; Analytical Toxicology
PgCert and PgDip in Medical Toxicology:
The Certificate and Diploma are only awarded to candidates who have demonstrated regular detailed study throughout the course and who reach a high standard of knowledge, understanding, and practical and clinical expertise. A commitment to regular daily study at home is required and an estimated 8 hours of study weekly during each module is considered to be the minimum necessary.
The Certificate consists of 5 main modules, each containing 3 topics, mainly drawn from the above. Thus 15 topics are studied. It is possible to convert the Certificate to a Diploma by studying the remaining 15 topics in the second year.
MSc in Medical Toxicology:
The MSc is available to a selected number of candidates who obtain acceptable marks on the Diploma and submit an MSc project which accords with the skills and expertise within the Department. All candidates must undertake the Diploma in the first year. In the second year MSc candidates complete four 2,500-word assignments. MSc candidates also have to complete a 15,000-word dissertation. There is also a biostatistics module which is not assessed.
Special features:
* Distance learning, delivered by the internet
* There is an optional update course during the first module organised by the National Poisons Information Service (Cardiff Centre). This provides a forum for discussion, tutorials, case presentations and lectures and the cost of this course (excluding travel) is included in the course fee.
* There is a direct telephone number for use by candidates taking the course to ensure good communication with the department.