MPharm Pharmacy

Develop students’ core knowledge and problem solving skills relating to patient and medication safety, clinical applications of pharmacogenetics and pharmaceutical care.

This unit builds on skills and knowledge gained in the previous 3 years of the MPharm curriculum. The unit is designed to prepare the student for the practice of pharmacy in their pre-registration year and beyond. During the course, the student will gain new knowledge in pharmaceutical care, pharmacogenetics, patient care, and management of complex patients. Workshops will allow the student to develop competencies and skills in communication, team work, decision making, and pharmaceutical planning in a safe environment.

This is the top of the spiral curriculum where the knowledge and concepts learned in the previous years of study are put into practice so that the student will leave the MPharm programme competent to begin practice as a pre-registration pharmacist in the community, primary care or hospital setting. The unit uses both individual and group-based learning.

• Lectures and seminars.
• Interactive workshops.
• e-learning package (genetics).
• Role-play / simulation of clinical skills.
• Oral presentations.

• Use a systematic approach to problem solving within pharmaceutical care
• Describe ways in which the pharmacist can contribute to the quality of patient care and improve patient outcomes.

• Access, use & critically evaluate evidence to support safe, rational & cost effective use of medicines
• Recommend, monitor and modify prescribed treatment to  optimise health outcomes, in collaboration with the prescriber, other healthcare professionals and patient
• Apply principles of evidence-based practice to address actual and potential problems with individual patients’ therapy and advise on appropriate drug therapy.

• Use the evidence base to review current practice and provide evidence-based medicines information to tailor treatment to the individual needs of the patient.
• Clinically evaluate the appropriateness of prescribed and over the counter medicines.

• Review patient specific information (eg social, medical history, laboratory test results, etc) as an aid to effective decision-making and inclusive practice in healthcare.
• Instruct patients in the safe and effective use of their medicines and devices.
• Record accurate and relevant patient medical and social history, and complete clinical documentation.
• Prepare and present pharmaceutical reviews (PR).
• Prepare pharmaceutical care plans (PCP).
• Work effectively within teams.
• Engage in inter-professional and clinical simulations to improve employment prospects and further develop team-working and communication skills.

Summative Assessment

Component 1 – 15 credits

• Pharmaceutical Review Group Report and Presentation: 25% (pass mark is 40%)
• Preparation for Practice (MCQ) Exam: 25% (pass mark is 40%)

Component 2 – 15 credits

• Pharmaceutical Care Plan (PCP) presentations: 25% each for a total of 50% (pass mark is 40%)

Component 3 – 0 credits

• Clinical Skills OSCE exam: pass / fail.

Students must pass each component to pass the unit.

Note: the PCP and OSCE assessments make use of penalties for errors or omissions which have the potential to cause significant patient harm. The mark awarded for a resit attempt of the PCP exam is capped at 40%. There is no resit opportunity for the MCQ exam.  

Feedback will be provided in the workshop sessions via peers and staff. Weekly PCP student-prepared model answers will be commented upon by staff and shared on Blackboard. OSCE workshops will use peer and staff feedback.

Will be provided on Blackboard on the reading list for the course.

All lectures and workshops are compulsory.  All content is examinable.