Courses & Units
Introduction to Complementary Medicines CSA509
Hobart
Introduction
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a range of modalities and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, which lie outside the politically dominant health system. It is understood by its users to assist in preventing or treating illness or in promoting health and wellbeing.
Because CAM is defined as being outside the dominant healthcare system, boundaries between the two systems change over time, and this creates uncertainty among consumers and health professionals. Complementary medicine is an increasing feature of healthcare practice, with recent surveys finding that approximately two-thirds of Australians regularly take a complementary medicine product. These are typically vitamin and/or herbal preparations used for health maintenance or health management.
In this unit you will be given an overview of CAM as practiced in Australia. This will include looking at who uses CAM, their motivation for doing so and the ethical and professional issues that CAM use raise in health professionals. The unit will also focus on the application of CAMs in alignment with quality use of medicines principles. The focus will be on understanding issues associated with the production and regulation of CAMs, their safety (adverse events, drug interactions) and their use in special patient groups (pregnancy, older people, and children). This will enable you to make better decisions regarding the need for CAMs, the appropriateness of CAM for your patients in light of other available treatment options, and how to educate patients regarding their application and how to monitor the outcomes.
Summary
| Unit name | Introduction to Complementary Medicines |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CSA509 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | College of Health and Medicine School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology |
| Discipline | Pharmacy |
| Coordinator | Doctor Susannah (Sue) Evans |
| Delivered By | Delivered wholly by the provider |
| Level | Postgraduate |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | Off-Campus | International | Domestic | |
| Hobart | Semester 2 | Off-Campus | International | Domestic | |
Key
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 22/2/2021 | 23/3/2021 | 12/4/2021 | 30/5/2021 |
| Semester 2 | 12/7/2021 | 10/8/2021 | 30/8/2021 | 17/10/2021 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2021 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2021 will be available from the 1st October 2020. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the changes in utilization of CAM in Australia over the last 30 years.
- Demonstrate coherent knowledge of the main CAM modalities used in Australia.
- Identify the issues associated with the diversity of CAM products in the Australian market, including their regulation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the underlying ethical and professional issues that CAM use raises in health professionals
- Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management to inform clinical decision making regarding complementary medicines, particularly regarding specific patient populations (eg pregnancy, children and older people).
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 060501 | $993.00 | $993.00 | not applicable | $2,354.00 |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | This unit is taught by distance. Online activities and weekly reading materials will be provided via MyLO. |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Assignment (30%)|Case Study (30%)|CAM case presentation (30%)|Discussion board participation (10%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes. |
Links | Booktopia textbook finder |
|---|
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.