Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The pharmacy practice units in the 4th year of the B Pharmacy course will provide both advanced and updated information on the dispensing and counselling of drugs using case based clinical scenarios. Through a series of case based problems and scenarios that will involve a diverse range of diseases and disorders, the students will gain experience in the skills required to dispense medication and effectively communicate drug knowledge to patients and other health professionals.

Aims

The aims of this unit are to:

1. Provide experience in dispensing and counselling techniques using case based clinical scenarios to apply the knowledge of pharmacotherapy on a diverse range of diseases and disorders.
2. Introduce the application of the field of epidemiology and evidence based medicine to pharmacy practice.
3. Provide competency in aspects of pharmaceutical compounding

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Competently dispense/supply a range of medications following assessment of a range of case based clinical scenarios for a diverse range of diseases and disorders and demonstrate knowledge of the efficacy and safety of recently released pharmaceutical drugs and be able to critical evaluate their therapeutic role compared with older medicines.
2. Competently provide practical advice on health issues to promote, maintain and support patient health care following the principles of quality use of medicines.
3. Display understanding of the principles of pharmacoepidemiology and evidence based medicine.
4. Prepare, label and dispense a range of extemporaneous pharmaceutical products consistent with a community pharmacy formulary.

Content

Dispensing and Counselling: Practical application of dispensing and counselling techniques introduced in the preceding pharmacy practice units will be reinforced using a number of case based clinical scenarios that will allow the examination of the proper clinical use of a wide variety of drug classes, and allow the demonstration and reinforcement of the principles and practice of QUM and communication skills. The content includes but is not limited to selected cardiovascular, blood, thoracic, hepatic, toxinology and endocrine disorders.
Pharmaceutical Compounding: Preparation and dispensing of a range of extemporaneous formulations at a level equivalent to an Intern Pharmacists.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The subject matter will be presented to you as lectures (3 hours per week) and practical training in the counselling and dispensing of medications will be provided in a model pharmacy environment (3 hours per week). The contact time for this unit will be approximately 54 hours and will be covered in the first 9 weeks of the semester.

This unit is vertically integrated with previous pharmacy practice units. This unit is horizontally integrated with CSB473 Pharmacotherapeutics 2. Experiential placements in a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or other health related field (SCB768 Professional Placements 1) will allow students to apply the knowledge and skills from this unit in a real world environment.

Assessment

A satisfactory performance (greater than 50%) in all individual components of assessment tasks is required to obtain a passing grade for this unit.
In addition to submitting hard copies of your assessment you may be required to electronically submit all written assignments for content matching checksWeekly written feedback is given on laboratory/practical work. Feedback on other items is given on completion of marking.

Assessment name: Examination (Practical)
Description: There are two invigilated oral exams throughout the semester. The progress exam is formative and summative. Weighting 15%. There is also an end of semester oral exam that will be conducted in a similar format to the AHPRA internship exam. Summative. Weighting 25%.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid and End Semester

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: There are two invigilated written theory exams throughout the semester. The progress exam is formative and summative. Weighting 15%. There is also an end of semester theory exam. Summative. Weighting 25%.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid and End Semester

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: Pharmaceutical compounding. There will be formative and summative compounding sessions. There will be an invigilated exam. Summative.
Relates to objectives: 4.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Examination (Practical)
Description: There will be weekly tutorial tasks and dispensing portfolio. There will be an invigilated dispensing exam at the end of semester. Summative.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

1. Australian Medicines Handbook (current edition) Adelaide: AMH Pty Ltd

2. Therapeutic Guidelines, Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd, 23-47 Villiers Street, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051 (available on-line)

3. Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits, Canberra, ACT: Australian Govt Dept of Health and Aging (available on-line)

4. The Merck Manual (current edition), Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehorse Station

5. MIMS (current edition), MIMS Australia, St Leonards, NSW: CMPMedica Australia Pty Limited

6. Sansom LN, ed. Australian pharmaceutical formulary and handbook (current edition). Canberra: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with the on-campus mode of this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus. More information on health and safety can be obtained from http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/healthsafe/index.jsp

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 22-Feb-2013