Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Offered	Sunway Second semester 2010 (Day) Parkville Second semester 2010 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Safeera Hussainy

Synopsis

This unit puts the practice of pharmacy and delivery of pharmacy services in a public health context. It emphasises a population perspective for health policy as well as clinical decision-making.

Students will develop an understanding of:

1. Definitions and issues in public health including the socio-environmental determinants of health.
2. The role of pharmacy in a public health context.
3. The Australian National Medicines Policy and the Quality Use of Medicines Strategy.
4. The nature, role and development of health policy.

Students will develop abilities in:

1. Applying population-based evidence to improve clinical decision-making.
2. Applying health economic principles to medicines use.
3. Dispensing, including clinical problem-solving.
4. Performing pharmaceutical calculations building on previous knowledge.

Students will develop an appreciation of:

1. The roles of other health proferssionals and their relationship to pharmacy.
2. Key issues around medicines promotion and international health.

Objectives

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Describe the broad public health perspectives and framework for providing therapeutic services and care to patients, and for working with other health care professionals.
2. Discuss the process for formulating health policy and the impact of various health policies.
3. Describe the roles of other health care professionals.
4. Discuss the principles and application of the Quality Use of Medicine Strategy of the National Medicines Policy.
5. Conduct a systematic review of the literature and a subsequent critical appraisal to answer a clinical enquiry.
6. Dispense medicines and solve clinical problems.
7. Perform pharmaceutical calculations relevant to the practice of pharmacy.

Assessment

Evidence-based practice assignment: 15%; Dispensing exam: 20%; final exam (3 hour): 65%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Safeera Hussainy

Contact hours

34 hours of lectures, 2 hours of group tutorials, 18 hours of group practicals, and 6 hours of a formative assessment activity

Prerequisites

PAC1311 Pharmacy, Health and Society I
PAC1322 Pharmacy, Health and Society II
PAC2331 Pharmacists and Communicators

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/