MSc Clinical Pharmacy / Course details

This module builds on the knowledge and skills gained in prior units to further develop the student’s professional practice in managing patients with complex disease states, including those with HIV, TB, cancer, and patients requiring intensive care, clinical nutrition or biological therapies.

Depending on the student’s area of practice, there will be an opportunity to choose appropriate case studies to meet their professional needs.

At the end of the unit, the student should be able to:

• Apply a considered, systematic approach to problem-solving for patients with advanced disease states
• Critically apply the evidence available in the treatment of advanced disease states
• Evaluate the key therapeutic principles of treating advanced disease states and demonstrate how they can be incorporated into practice
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of individualising patient care within specific advanced disease states
• Identify how to monitor the desired outcomes and adverse effects of drug therapy
• Discuss the complexities of therapeutic decision-making in different advanced disease states and patient groups
• Apply the principles of continuing professional development (CPD) to practice and evaluate their competence against a professional competency framework.

The unit will be assessed using a case analysis and associated oral presentation and a pharmaceutical care plan. 

The unit aims to further develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in medicines optimisation and in clinical problem-solving skills in complex disease states including the critical care patient and advanced and complex disease states, ie, HIV, TB, nutrition, cancer, critical care and biological therapies.

Students will apply this knowledge to review patients and optimise their therapy through a series of case studies and online exercises. 

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, case study, formative quiz or participation in a group discussion.

Students will be given the option to choose from a range of complex disease states to study in order to enhance their own expertise relevant to their current role or future career aspirations.

This unit builds upon the knowledge and skills gained from completing prior units. It aims to further develop the student’s professional practice in managing patients with complex, advanced disease states, including those with HIV, TB, Cancer, and patients requiring intensive care, clinical nutrition and biological therapies.

This will provide the following outcomes:

• Critical evaluation of primary and secondary evidence, local and national guidelines relating these to the individual patient needs
• Develop the student’s decision-making and problem-solving skills with regard to patient care
• Medicines optimisation issues including patient safety and wastage of medicines, which will include relevant national policy and guidelines
• Patient-centred care including patient and healthcare professional communication and consultation skills
• Encourage a holistic approach to patient care which accounts for the personal, social and cultural needs of the patient
• Depending on the student’s area of practice there will be an opportunity to choose appropriate case studies to meet their professional needs.

The online 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. The unit will foster an online student community with interactive activities and communications with the unit team.

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of specific disease states (HIV/TB, nutrition, critical care, biologic therapies and cancer) and the complex issues involved in therapeutic optimisation and individualising care for patients with these diseases.
• Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of best clinical practice and its application to clinical practice and pharmaceutical care of patients with specific disease states (as above).

• 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.
• Use critical reasoning to synthesise, analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources of data from clinical areas and apply these to individual patient problem-solving.

• Safely and competently carry out a range of patient-based clinical skills (pharmaceutical care planning, case-based analysis of patient management).
• Use resources to collect and select information about the optimal clinical management of a complex patient.
• Develop presentation skills.
• Carry out constructive peer review.

• Learn to manage effective team working by carrying out tasks within a small group in a structured situation, and by preparing and giving an oral presentation [blended only].
• 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 demonstrating competency against a professional competency framework.

Provisional marks and feedback for coursework returned within 15 working days.

Exam marks and final marks returned after ratification at exam board. 

An up-to-date reading list for the unit is available on Reading Iists online via Blackboard. 

Other scheduled teaching and learning activities: (36 hours)

• 2 x 1-hour tutorial with Education Supervisor using a nominated online communication tool, eg, Zoom
• 12 hours of e-lectures
• 12 hours of online discussions
• 5 webinars with the respective topic expert
• 4 hours of online self-assessment tests
• 4 hours of discussion boards
• 2 hours of case analysis presentation via webinar.