Community Pharmacy Public Health Services (MSc/PGDip) [Web based learning]

The aim of the programme is to develop pharmacists who can act as role models in both the performance and future development of clinical services and health service management.

The programme serves to enhance students' clinical knowledge, teaching them to optimise drug therapy and develop their problem solving skills. A variety of health services issues are explored, including health economics, health services research, patient perspectives on health and organisational influences on health care.

Teaching methods include online tasks including webinars and self-directed study supported by small group tutorials, workshops and experience-based learning at the University and in hospitals guided by experienced practitioners and work place tutors.

At Certificate level, Diploma and Masters it will enable students to:

• Acquire and develop an advanced knowledge and in-depth understanding of the national public health agenda and the innovative contributions that community pharmacists can provide.
• Acquire and develop the advanced skills to make an effective contribution to improving the public health of their local population.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as an advanced community pharmacy public health practitioner to ensure the delivery of high quality, evidence-based services that meet national and local policies.
• Identify their own learning needs, develop themselves as critically reflective practitioners and advance their own learning to sustain continuing professional development, and work at the forefront of their profession.

In addition, at Diploma and Masters it will enable students to:

• Critically evaluate public health literature, theories and methodologies and apply evidence-based approaches to community pharmacy public health services.
• Develop skills to provide professional leadership in the development of community pharmacy public health services.

At Masters only, it will enable students to:

• Develop skills to provide professional leadership in the development of community pharmacy public health services.

There are eight compulsory course units for the Diploma:

• Introduction to Clinical Practice
• Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 1
• Research Methods
• Prescribing: evidence, utilisation and management
• Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 2
• Advanced Therapeutics
• Leadership and Management
• Health Economics

The Diploma programme commences in September and January each year and is part-time for two years (the method of delivery is both online and face to face supported by workplace experiential learning). The total credit rating for the diploma course is 120. This is derived from eight different units, each of which comprises 2 full study days (with preparation delivered online, completed at a time to suit the student). All students will be required to prepare for the study days by reading the directed reading material provided.

Clinical Course Units - Introduction to Clinical Practice comprises a wide range of tutorials covering the interpretation of laboratory data and the development of clinical skills. The module also addresses how medicines are handled in a variety of special patient groups. Introduction to Clinical Practice is assessed by one Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) lasting 2 hours and a calculation assessment. A completed calculation workbook is also a requirement of this unit.

Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 1 then builds on the introductory module and explores the therapeutics of frequently encountered disease states; skills which will be developed include the completion of patient profiles, identification of drug-related problems, medicines reconciliation, patient counselling and discharge planning. Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 1 is assessed by one 2-hour exam and two patient profiles. A completed patient portfolio is also a requirement of this unit. Common to both clinical units is a structured period of practice in hospital settings.

Prescribing: evidence, utilisation and management (15 credits) includes the exploration of the principles of medicines management and their application to the practice of pharmacy. The module reviews concepts of prescribing and evidence-based practice, and their application to the management of medicines.

Research Methods (15 credits) covers research design and governance in health services research as well as tailored sessions on quantitative and qualitative methods. In addition, students develop a critical approach to the evaluation of medical and health services literature. The tutorials involve a mixture of short presentations, discussions and practical exercises. For example, students will participate in practical exercises in evaluating a published paper or designing a drug use evaluation. Practical exercises in the use of different research methods and a review of the basic principles of statistics and research ethics help students to write a research proposal in Research Methods.

Evidence-based medicine is assessed by one 1-hour exam and Research Methods by an assignment to develop a protocol for a piece of research.

Clinical Course Units - Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 2 (15 credits) and Advanced Therapeutics (15 credits) include the development and understanding of therapeutic decision-making in a wide variety of patient groups. This is done through the development of a knowledge base of therapeutic options in the management of specific diseases and skills in monitoring the desired outcomes and adverse effects of treatment.

Each university-based tutorial is moderated by a clinical pharmacist with expertise in a particular therapeutic area. The subjects covered encompass those in which pharmacists can make a significant contribution to patient care. The tutorial format involves case discussion and review of pertinent, current medical and pharmaceutical literature.

Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 2 builds on Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 1 in the first year by covering more complex conditions that are frequently encountered by the clinical pharmacist. Assessment of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Therapeutics 2 is by one 1 hour unseen exam, a written case report and a case presentation.

Advanced therapeutics addresses specialist areas of practice such as critical care and HIV/AIDS. Advanced Therapeutics is assessed by one 1 hour unseen exam and patient profiles.

A completed patient portfolio is also a requirement of the Clinical Course Units.

Health Services Course Units - Leadership and Management (15 credits) includes the management and organisational issues in health service and its impact on pharmaceutical care. Students explore these aspects and determine how they impact on health and pharmaceutical service provision. In Leadership and Management, students concentrate on the pharmacist's role in health care management.

Research project (60 credits) supervises students to produce a research dissertation, reporting the background, aims, results and conclusions of a study related to community pharmacy public health.

Students are assessed by a written dissertation.

Academic entry qualification overview:

All applicants must be able to meet the following requirements:

• have an honours degree in pharmacy usually at a minimum level of 2:2
• be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (UK) or equivalent regulatory authority in the students home country for overseas students
• be in employment in the community healthcare pharmacy sector or have access to an appropriate area of practice whilst enrolled on the programme
• submit a written document to support their application which gives a review of their pharmacy experience, their reason/s for undertaking the programme and their expectations of what they hope to gain from the programme.

International Students: All International students must upload a scanned copy of their passport as part of the application process.

Options for starting a programme

We offer two entry point each year

• September for our PGCert, PGDip and Masters programmes
• February for our PGDip and Masters programmes

English language:

Students whose first language is not English require either:

• IELTS level 7.0 overall with level 7.0 in reading and writing specifically
• TOEFL 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or minimum of 100 (Internet-based test)
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English Grade B

All certification should have been achieved within the past two years.

Other entry requirements:

Applicants need to be working a minimum of one day per week in community or primary care pharmacy and have access to patients.  

As this is a completely online programme, students must have access to a computer with fast and reliable internet connection. There is a minimum level of computer skills required, these include the ability to:

• navigate the Blackboard learner management system to locate teaching and learning materials and to access and submit assessments (with initial basic training)
• work efficiently with Word (or similar) and Powerpoint programmes
• use the internet to search websites
• navigate e-learning programmes
• download PDF learning materials
• use video equipment to undertake assessments.

Attendance at the introductory day on 15 September 2012 at the University of Manchester is highly recommended for all successful applicants. This is an opportunity to meet the module leaders and the other students learning on the programme.

The web-based programme is run on a modular distance learning part-time basis. The learning will be delivered using a blend of:

• Blackboard 9 facilities
• e-lectures
• e-tutorials
• e-discussion forums
• e-journals
• e-assessment methods
• CPPE open learning programmes
• Public health websites

Each unit of the programme has a designated leader who is responsible for the individual assessments, under the guidance of the Programme Director. All assessments will be monitored and reviewed by the Exam Board.

Candidates for the Certificate, Diploma and Masters will need to achieve an overall mark of 50%.

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

See: About the School.

Telephone: +44 (0)161 778 4015

Email: diploma@cppe.ac.uk;

Website: www.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/programmes/taughtmasters/pharmacypublichealth/

• MSc_flyer2012.pdf (PDF, 978 KB)
• CPPE_Diploma_flyer_JUNE_11.pdf (PDF, 634 KB)
• Programme_pathways_August_2012.pdf (PDF, 99 KB)