*1.  Introduction to the Monograph Assignment

Objective for Chapters 1-3.  Students will understand the guidelines for the monograph assignment and how the various small, week 1 assignments contribute to this major assignment.

As you have already learned, the monograph assignment is one of this course’s two major assignments. You will submit a written drug monograph and present the monograph information orally.

Instructor grading assignment:

• Dr. Podany will grade the content of your written monograph (45 points) and your oral monograph presentation (50 points).
• Dr. Schmidt will grade the in-text citations and reference list in your written monograph (5 points).

Monograph Assignment (MA) guidelines

The “Monograph Assignment Preparation” guidelines are available in a couple of locations:

• in the next chapter 
• in Canvas

Canvas –> “PHPR 562” –> “Course Documents”–> “Monograph Assignment” folder

The guidelines document includes all the due dates, formatting requirements, suggested sections, etc.

Steps Toward Completion of Monograph Assignment

1) Select and claim a topic today (MA1 assignment) by following steps a-h below.  You may want to do this now.

1. 1.  Go to  Canvas and open the materials for this course.
   2. Scroll down to the “Week 1” materials
   3. Click on the “MA1 assignment.“
   4. Review the drugs listed in the table on the MA1 assignment page.
   5. Click the “Edit” button.
   6. Type your name in the second column directly across from the drug you wish to use as the topic for your monograph assignment.  If the drug you would like to use as your topic doesn’t appear in the list,  type the generic name of the drug (first column) and your name (second column) in the “student entered drugs” section under the other drugs with the same first letter.

Keep in mind that it is usually easier to write a monograph about a single drug preparation (e.g. codeine) rather than a multi-drug preparation (e.g. acetaminophen with codeine).

1. 7. Click the “Save” button.
   8. Check the list to be sure your name appears next to the drug you wish to claim.  If students try to claim the same drug simultaneously, one claimant’s name may be lost.  If you have problems contact Cindy (cmschmidt@unmc.edu, 402-650-5056)
   9. After you confirm that your name is present in the edited and saved list, enter the name of the drug you have chosen in MA1 assignment part b.  (This is a safeguard in case a student deletes the entire table by mistake.  This may seem unlikely, but something similar did happen a couple years ago.)

2). Prepare to cite your sources using AMA 11th style.

1. 1. You will learn the basics of AMA 11th cstyle later this week when you read chapter 3.
   2. Also later this week, you will learn an approach to simplifying in-text citation and bibliography production when you work on the MA3 assignment and tutorial.  The tutorial will show you how to use Zotero, a freely available citation management program, to format in-text citations and reference lists.  You do not have to use Zotero to format the in-text citations and references in your final written monograph assignment, but most students find it easier to do so.  You will write longer papers during the course of your education.  Zotero will be even more useful then.

3) You will select three resources to use as sources of the information that you will later summarize in your monograph.

a.  A monograph from one of the standard, online, drug information resources listed below:

• • AHFS DI
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • LexiDrugs
  • Martindale’s: The Complete Drug Reference

 Later this week, you will complete the MA2 assignment and tutorial which will help you find the needed citation information.  

b.  An online package insert (online PPI) from Daily Med.

A portion of the MA3/Zotero tutorial that you will complete later this week will help you find the needed citation information.

c.  A journal article

Again, a portion of the MA3/Zotero tutorial that you will complete later this week will help you find the needed citation information.

4). Write a one-page summary of the most vital information concerning your drug.  Keep track of the sources used as the basis for each statement.   Follow assignment guidelines and review the  correctly formatted sample assignment.  It’s worth emphasizing a couple aspects of the format here:

1. 1. The monograph text should not be more than 1 page in length.  (font size 11 or higher, single-spaced).  You may find confining your monograph to one page to be the most difficult aspect of the assignment.
   2. The reference list may be on a second page.  In fact, if your reference list does not extend onto a second page, you are probably short-changing the coverage of your drug.
   3. The written monograph should include most of the following sections:
      • Drug name (generic and trade names),
      • Chemical structure,
      • Physicochemical properties,
      • Biopharmaceutical properties,
      • Pharmacokinetics,
      • Pharmacological properties,
      • Other drugs in same class
      • Therapeutic use(s)
      • Important drug-drug interactions
      • Adverse effects (Most frequent or important AEs only)
      • Precautions and/or contraindications
      • Doses, Dosage forms and routes of administration
      • Patient Counseling

You may not have enough space to include all of these sections.  Also, to save space, you may wish to combine two sections that flow together logically.

5). Either insert AMA 11th style in-text citations , with or without using Zotero.

6). Add your AMA 11th style bibliography, with or without using Zotero.

7).  You may ask Cindy (Dr. Schmidt) to check your in-text citations and bibliography if you get the document to Cindy on or before Thursday, October 27th at midnight.

8).  Submit your written drug monograph through Canvas before midnight on Friday, October 28th.

9).   Submit 5 multiple choice questions concerning your monograph drug through Canvas before  midnight, Friday October 28th.  Dr. Podany will use some of your questions on the quiz given the week following your oral presentation .

10). Present your findings in a 15 minute presentation.  Presentations will begin on Monday, Oct 31.  An announcement will be posted in Canvas when the schedule of oral presentations is available.

You will get tips on preparing your presentation later this week when you listen to Dr. Podany’ “Scientific Presentation Skills” video ( included in chapter 8) .

Questions, Problems, Text Errors?

Before you leave, …

• Do you have any questions or do you feel that clarification of some aspect of the materials would be helpful?
• Have you noticed any errors or problems with course materials that you’d like to report?
• Do you have any other comments?

If so, you can submit questions, comments, corrections, and concerns anonymously — or with your e-mail (your choice) — through this online form .  Alternatively, you’re always welcome to contact Cindy Schmidt directly 402-650-5056, cmschmidt@unmc.edu, or by making an appointment to meet with Cindy via Zoom.

Answers to questions or requests for clarification that are submitted anonymously will be answered in Canvas on the “Discussions” page for this course.