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Table 6 A comparison of course content by lecture theme across degree programs, depicted as frequency of lecture themes taught (percentage) across degree programs

From: An evaluation of pharmacology curricula in Australian science and health-related degree programs

Lecture theme in rank* order

Mean (%)

Science (n = 59) (%)

Pharmacy (n = 41) (%)

Nursing (n = 24) (%)

Medicine (n = 27) (%)

Analgesia/ Anaesthesia/ Anti- inflammatories

53 ± 10

51

42

67

52

Pharmacokinetics

51± 10

58

37

58

52

Pharmacodynamics

50 ± 16

63

27

58

52

Neuropharmacology

45 ± 2

47

42

46

44

Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs

42 ± 10

37

32

54

44

Chemotherapy

39 ± 17

31

20

58

48

Metabolic / Endocrine/ Genital Drugs

39 ± 10

41

32

33

41

Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicology

37 ± 5

36

27

50

41

Drugs of Abuse

34 ± 9

34

22

42

37

Respiratory Drugs

32 ± 6

31

24

38

33

Drug Design and Development

32 ± 17

56

24

21

26

Miscellaneous

28 ± 9

24

24

21

41

Gastrointestinal Drugs

22 ± 9

15

15

33

26

Complementary Medicines

22 ± 2

20

22

25

22

Musculoskeletal Drugs

19 ± 7

14

24

13

26

Future Therapies

13 ± 13

10

10

0

30

  1. Error in the "Mean" column represents the standard deviation. Courses were evaluated for the presence or absence of material taught covering each theme. An individual course might cover some, all or none of the identified themes and therefore, a stand-alone pharmacology course might be expected to be represented in each percentage whereas an integrated course might be represented only in a single percentage within a degree program.
  2. *Ranking is based on the mean frequency of lecture themes taught (percentage) across degree programs from highest to lowest.
  3. n = number of courses surveyed.