Competencies in medical toxicology

Details

Title

Competencies in medical toxicology

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS111

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of relating an understanding of human biochemistry and physiology to the changes that occur in drug treatment and in poisoning, be able to

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform, adapt and master a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• epidemiology of acute poisoning
• diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of poisoning
• fatal poisoning
• pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism
• adverse drug reactions
• substance abuse
• occupational and environmental toxicology
• teratology
• malicious poisoning
• biochemical, haematological and radiological techniques used in the differential diagnosis of poisoning/adverse drug reactions.
• analytical toxicological techniques used in the differential diagnosis of poisoning and in therapeutics
• clinical pharmacology and toxicology of therapeutic agents
• molecular biology to identify genetic variability in response to drugs and poisons
• biological variability
• reference values and population statistics:
• target ranges and other reference values
• inter- and intra-individual variation
• assessment and application of biological variance data in setting analytical goals
• assessing utility of reference values
• significance of changes in serial results.

Attitudes and behaviours

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance, adaptation and mastery of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• the appropriate use, and interpretation of the results, of the laboratory investigations valuable in the differential diagnosis of poisoning, in monitoring progress, and in guiding treatment
• liaison and clear communicate with colleagues and other clinical teams in primary and secondary care both verbally and via secure email/clinic letters
• the effect of genetic, environmental, and other influences such as age, sex, nutrition, time of day, stress, posture, hospitalisation and drug treatment on the interpretation of analytical results.

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of competencies in medical toxicology to perform, adapt and master the clinical skills necessary to manage to:

• liaise with clinical colleagues.