Components of Training

Core Training
This is of 24 months and should include and address:

• Principles of basic pharmacology of essential drug groups and mechanisms of action.
  
• Principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
  
• Paediatric or geriatric pharmacology.
  
• Individual and population variance in drug response.
  
• Assessment of adverse drug reactions.
  
• Therapeutic drug monitoring and reporting of plasma drug concentrations.
  
• Knowledge of codes of good laboratory and good clinical research practice.
  
• Awareness of literature and computer sources of drug information.
  
• Understanding of the role of ethics committees.
  
• Awareness of the role of drug committees.
  
• Knowledge of basic research principles.
  
• Completion of at least one research project (other than a clinical trial).
  
• Understanding of the process involved in evaluating new drugs.
  
• Principles of quality drug use.

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Procedural Skills
There are no specific requirements for procedural skills.

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Elective Training
Many other options are available and may be pursued for six months or more of the three year program. Alternative options should be discussed with a member of the SAC. Suggested areas for additional training include:

• Clinical or basic toxicology.
  
• Pharmacoepidemiology.
  
• Secondment to the Federal Department of Health to gain exposure to drug evaluation processes.
  
• Secondment to the pharmaceutical industry.
  
• Palliative care and principles of pain management.
  
• Clinical microbiology.
• Training posts in many other subspecialties could also be appropriate.

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Projects or Case Reports
During the course of clinical pharmacology training, there should be at least one project report which should be submitted to and approved by the SAC.

The purpose of this process is to demonstrate the trainee's ability to plan, organise and evaluate a project, critically evaluate the medical literature, use statistics appropriately and write clearly and succinctly. The project must be the original work of the trainee.

The written report may be in the form of:

• A clinical or laboratory research project set out in a standard form suitable for submission to a peer reviewed journal (Vancouver guidelines).

or

• A clinical report of patients with appropriate literature reviews. This can be a group of unrelated cases, each with a commentary, or a series of patients illustrative of a particular problem. (A single case report, unless it is associated with original work of considerable depth, is not acceptable).

or

• A critical and comprehensive literature review generally on a subject of major paediatric importance (acceptable as only one of the written projects required during the whole of advanced training and clinical pharmacology training).

or

• A substantial research proposal including background rationale, hypotheses and methodology, and with a comprehensive literature review e.g. of the standard equivalent to an NHMRC project grant application (acceptable as only one of the written projects required during advanced training).

or

• A report and commentary on substantial original work e.g. progress towards a thesis for a senior degree or a completed thesis (PhD or MD).

The project should normally not exceed 2000 words, excluding tables and references.

Three copies of the written report must be submitted to the SAC before 15 September each year to allow sufficient time for critical evaluation by members of the SAC. Reports considered unsatisfactory by the SAC will be rejected, even if a favourable comment has been made by the supervisor.

Reasons for rejection and advice regarding resubmission will be sent to the trainee. Further discussion with a local member of the SAC is encouraged.

Specific Guidelines for the Format of the Written Presentation:

• There should be an abstract.
  
• The overall presentation should be similar to that for a journal article ie. introduction/background; methods; results; discussion: references.
  
• Tables and figures should be separate from the text, as for standard journal articles. They should have separate, concise legends.
  
• Where relevant, acknowledgments concerning the involvement and input of others in data collection, study design, etc must be given at the end of the discussion section.
  
• The writing of the project report in general is expected to be done by the candidate. If a published paper is submitted, the candidate must state what role he/she had in the drafting and writing of the paper.
  
• Any funding (eg project funding, grant body funding) should be acknowledged, as should any institutional support.

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Other Specific Requirements
Nil.

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Research
The SAC encourages trainees to undertake some research during the course of advanced training.

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Training Posts
Training posts should provide adequate training programs in the areas listed above in Components of Training section. Because of the flexible nature of the training program, trainees are advised to discuss their proposed program prospectively with a member of the SAC.

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