Winston-Salem State University Pharmacology Project

Project Description

This project is intended to describe drug regimens of major pathologies. Within each regimen drug classes will be discussed, the mechanism of action of the drug, brief pharmacokinetics of the drugs and implications of the drugs for physiotherapy. Specific pathologies/injuries that will be discussed will include:

• Drugs in the treatment of psychoses
• Drugs in the management of spinal cord injury
• Drugs in the management of rheumatoid arthritis
• Drugs in the management of congestive heart failure
• Drugs in the management of hypertension
• Drugs in the management of Parkinson’s Disease
• Drugs in the management of diabetes

Course Instructor

Doris Molina-Henry, PhD

Assistant Professor at Winston-Salem State University, NC 

Project Objectives

Full instructions are provided to students on a document distributed by the university. The key points of these instructions that we are publicizing to the world are as follows:

1. Students will search current literature and develop a physical therapy relevant synopsis of drug regimens used in common conditions encountered by a physiotherapist. 
2. Students will explain how a drug works to manage a condition and will highlight adverse effects that can impact rehabilitation.
3. Students will list important educational points for the patient related to a medication regimen.

Instructions to Students

Students will work in groups of 4 on their respective topic. Within that topic students must include:

1. Brief description of disease or injury;
2. List of medications commonly used in the management of that pathology;

1. • For each medication – pharmacokinetics (half-life, elimination, clearance, and mechanism of action must be discussed as it relates to the described disease/injury.
   • Implications of drug benefits for physical therapy and implications of drug adverse effects for PT and/or PT contraindications.
   • Patient education recommendations. 

3. References must be within the past 5 years.

Expectations – Overall quality

Your content should be accurate, evidence-based, and have appropriate and accurate inclusion of hyperlinks and citations. The hyperlinks and citations should add knowledge value to your contributions. Your content should have absolutely zero spelling errors, zero grammar errors, zero breaches of academic integrity, and zero copyright violations. If you edit existing pages, your contributions should mesh well with the existing content on that page and be respectful of prior contributors.

Expectations – Citing of sources

To get you started you can find help on the Guide to taking part in a student project.