Course unit details:
Medicines Optimisation and Therapeutics 2
| Unit code | PHAR63012 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This unit is compulsory for students registered on the MSc/PGDip Clinical Pharmacy.
This unit will develop students’ knowledge in complex chronic disease states. Students will apply this knowledge to review patients and optimise their therapy through a series of case studies, self-directed online activities and pharmaceutical care plans.
The unit will deliver learning on:
- Therapeutic options for complex disease states including vascular disease, kidney and complex gastroenterology/hepatic disease, musculoskeletal disorders e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and palliative care.
- Critical evaluation of primary evidence and national guidelines relating these to the individual patient needs.
- Medicines optimisation issues including patient safety and wastage of medicines, which will include relevant national policy and guidelines.
- Patient-centred care including patient and health care professional communication and consultation skills
- Critically review the therapeutic options in the management of specific disease states
- Identify how to monitor the desired outcomes and adverse effects of drug therapy
- Discuss the complexities of therapeutic decision making in complex disease states and patient groups
- Present pharmaceutical care plans for an individual patient’s management, explaining all the patients pharmaceutical care requirements and identifying the role of the pharmacist in medicines optimisation
- Utilise the principles of CPD to further enhance their professional development in line with a professional competency framework.
The unit will be assessed using an online examination (MCQ and scenario-based short answer questions) and a pharmaceutical care plan.
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicines Optimisation & Therapeutics 1 | PHAR60411 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
| Foundations of Clinical Pharmacy | PHAR63001 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
| Evidence Based Practice | PHAR63002 | Co-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
The unit aims to further develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in medicines optimisation and apply clinical problem-solving skills to complex chronic disease states, namely, vascular disease, kidney disease, hepatic disease, musculoskeletal (rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis), Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and palliative care.
Teaching and learning methods
This course unit is delivered online using Blackboard. All learning material is presented in week-by-week folders to help students manage their time. Each week will contain four main elements:
- background reflective tasks
- learning in the form of an e-lecture, embedded video or webinar
- further reading
- a task to consolidate learning, eg, completion of coursework, formative quiz or participation in a group discussion.
The unit will develop the student’s knowledge in the following areas:
- Renal disease
- Hepatic disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Musculoskeletal disease (rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis)
- Palliative care
- Vascular disease.
Students will be engaged in the following activities to further develop their skills in the application of the above knowledge:
- Small group eLearning tasks based on case study problem identification, analysis and resolution
- Interpretation and application of clinical evidence through case studies and patient profiles
- Preparation of pharmaceutical care plans
- Understand the relationship between individual patient needs and therapeutics in different disease states
- Opportunities to engage subject experts in formal case discussions and virtual discussion boards.
Online and face-to-face teaching will be interactive and will normally utilise a case study to illustrate the major therapeutic issues outlined in the learning objectives. Tutorials also provide an opportunity to develop the student’s verbal and written communication skills through eLearning tasks, patient cases and care plans
The unit will foster an online student community with interactive activities and communications with the unit team. The online and face-to-face workshops and tutorials included in the course allow students the opportunities to broaden their knowledge and provide the opportunity for group discussion of more complex disease states and practice-related issues regarding medicines optimisation.
Knowledge and understanding
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of specific disease states and the complex issues involved in therapeutic optimisation and individualising care for patients with these diseases (RA, osteoporosis, palliative care, renal disease, hepatic disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and vascular disease)
- Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of best clinical practice and its application to clinical practice and pharmaceutical care of patients with specific disease states (above).
Intellectual skills
- Integrate theory and research of disease pathology and disease management with patient information to apply best evidence to practice in a clinical problem-solving context
- Critically analyse and evaluate the relevant scientific literature in therapeutics and practice research
- Use critical reasoning to synthesise, analyse and evaluate clinical and contextual data in order to apply this to resolve individual patient drug-related problems
- Apply these skills to pharmaceutical care planning.
Practical skills
- Safely and competently carry out a range of patient-based clinical skills; taking a drug history from a patient, evaluating individual patients’ pharmaceutical care needs, ensuring drug prescriptions and regimens are safe, effective and legal, identifying pharmaceutical care issues with resolutions and care planning
- Use resources to collect and select information about the optimal clinical management of a patient.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Manage effective team working by carrying out tasks within a small group in a structured situation
- Evaluate their own academic and personal progression
- Learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development and in a wider context throughout their career including identifying competency against a professional competency framework.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 70% |
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 30% |
| Assessment task | Length | Feedback | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
Formative assessment: Pharmaceutical care plan (1 individual plan)
| Suggested no longer than 2,000 words | Provided by the unit team via Blackboard | N/A |
Summative assessment: Written Examination (MCQ and case-based questions (two compulsory) | 2 hours | Feedback provided within the University Feedback timelines following examination board at end of semester via email and Blackboard | 70% |
Summative assessment: Pharmaceutical care plan | Suggested no longer than 2,000 words | Feedback provided within the University Feedback timekines (15 days) via Grade Centre and supplemented with individual feedback | 30% |
Recommended reading
An up-to-date reading list for the unit is available on Reading Iilsts online via Blackboard.
Study hours
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 118 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Raeesa Tailor | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Other scheduled teaching and learning activities: (32 hours)
- 2 x 1-hour one-to-one tutorials with Education Supervisor using a nominated online communication tool, eg, Zoom
- 4 hours e-lectures
- 12 hours of online workbook/case study material
- 2 hours of participation in discussion boards
- 8 hours of participation in self-directed online tasks
- 4 hours of online self-assessment tests/reflective tasks.