MPharm Pharmacy with a Foundation Year / Course details

To provide a practical introduction to the MPharm course, understanding of Pharmacy as a profession, background to the role of the pharmacist in promoting public health, self-care advice and drug misuse awareness, to consider lay beliefs, and to provide a basic understanding of the structure, physiology and growth properties of microorganisms important to human health, pathogenic microorganisms and their properties, factors of pathogenicity and the epidemiology, prevention and control of infectious diseases  individuals and in populations.

• Understand the expectations of them as MPharm undergraduates.
• Understand the importance of integrating ideas and presenting their own work, and correctly referencing existing work.
• Take personal responsibility for health and safety.
• Understand how different topics introduced in the induction interlink, are further developed in the MPharm and are relevant to their career as Pharmacists.
• Explain how the science of Pharmacy is applied in the design and development of medicines.
• Understand the behavioural requirements and attitudes necessary to practice within the Pharmacy profession.
• Solve relevant Pharmaceutical calculations efficiently and accurately.
• Prepare and deliver a presentation (using PowerPoint).
• Explain the role of the pharmacist in community pharmacy services.
• Describe the development of public health.
• Identify the role of the community and hospital pharmacist in public health.
• Explain how pharmacists can contribute to the Government’s plans to reduce health inequalities.
• Apply knowledge of current pharmacy-related policy to improve health outcomes.
• Promote healthy lifestyles by facilitating access to and understanding of health promotion information in a socially responsible manner
• Describe the different methods employed to measure health.
• Describe intentional and non-intentional non-adherence.
• Describe the factors that have influenced the move to greater self-care.
• Describe the role of the pharmacist in self-care.
• Describe the risks involved when injecting drugs.
• Describe the stages of the change model as applied to drug misuse.
• Describe the different treatments available to treat drug misusers.
• Describe the differences in structure and gene organisation between prokaryotes, eukaryotes, viruses and prions.
• Describe the differences in cell wall structure between Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria.
• Describe the shape, Gram reaction and major taxonomic groups of clinically important bacteria.
• Identify biochemical targets for selective antimicrobial activity.
• Demonstrate a practical competence in the handling and culturing of microorganisms.
• Describe the differences in structure and gene organisation between prokaryotes, eukaryotes, viruses and prions.
• Describe the pathogenesis of common bacterial and viral infective agents.
• Exemplify the epidemiology of microbial infection within a community.
• Describe and explain human non-specific and specific defence mechanisms against microbial disease.
• Distinguish available vaccines / immunogens and relate these to routes and methods of administration and risk / benefit.
• Provide, monitor and modify prescribed treatment to maximise health outcomes.
• Ensure the application of appropriate infection control measures.

Formative Assessment

Throughout semester 1, the workshops focusing on pharmacy service provision use application-based exercises to create opportunities for students to become integrative learners. Through discussion of the cases, learning is assessed formatively in each session, to build on the student’s knowledge and promote critical and creative thinking skills. In semester 2, this is built on further to include the pathogenesis and epidemiology of microbial agents. In both sessions interactive lectures provide opportunities to formatively assess learning via discussion and multiple choice questions. The laboratory classes are assessed through submission of a lab report which includes both specific and applied questions. Feedback comments are provided on the marked returns and staff involved in running the practical classes are available for a 2h tutorial to discuss key aspects.

Semester 1:

Throughout the workshop, facilitators will provide groups with formative feedback. Students will receive formative feedback at a number of points throughout the semester via MCQ and open discussions. Feedback will also be provided for consolidated and integrated assessment.

Semester 2:

Correct answers or guidance will be written on the marked & returned laboratory reports, usually within 2-3 days of submission. On-line feedback on Blackboard will be given for the formative MCQ and SAQ assessments. Feedback will also be provided for consolidated and integrated assessment.