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Course profile

Quality Use of Medicines B1 (PHRM3011)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
Dutton Park
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
Dutton Park
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
Dutton Park
Coordinating unit
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences School

Optimal use of medication for cardiovascular and renal systems, apnoea and childhood obesity, including
aspects of practice, dispensing & patient consultation.

The course builds on skills and knowledge gained during the second year of the BPharm(Hons) programᅠand is integrated with other PHRM courses and BIOM3010. The practical's extend and reinforce concepts taught in lectures and introduce students to elements of practice including some Over-The-Counter (OTC) medicines, complementary medicines, patient consultation on prescription medications,ᅠtroubleshooting prescribing errors with doctors, and dispensing while developing a patient-centred care approach. Placement in community pharmacy provides the opportunity to develop professional and social skills and apply pharmaceutical theory in a retail setting. ᅠ

Course requirements

Assumed background

Knowledge of the medicines (prescription, over-the-counter and complementary);ᅠmedical conditions;ᅠdisease states andᅠhealth issues; regulations (e.g. Medicines and Poisons Act 2019); dispensing skillsᅠcovered in PHRM2011 and PHRM2012, and practice experience via a pharmacy placement. This course will build on the concept of patient centredness as you develop into a pharmacist.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PHRM3010

Restrictions

Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Other

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

  • For scheduled times and venues, refer to mySI-net timetable.ᅠIf unforeseen changes are required,ᅠthe updated version and date of the timetableᅠwill be uploaded onto Blackboard accompanied by an announcement.
  • The topic of each lecture/tutorial is listedᅠon BlackBoard (see timetable in the PHRM3011 BlackBoard site), together with a list of the main points that will be covered inᅠeach lecture.

Aims and outcomes

1. To attainᅠthe knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary for contribution to the optimal use of medicationᅠin cardiovascular, haematological, and renal injury and disease,ᅠincluding aspects of practice, dispensing, and patient consultation.

2. To build on the Quality Use of Medicines foundation gained in years 1 and 2 and to consolidate and integrate knowledge and skills both horizontallyᅠ(across the course year) andᅠvertically (between course years),ᅠwith respect to pharmacotherapy, prescription/non-prescription medicines, and appropriate referral.

3. To gain pharmacy practice experience and enhance student employability through work integrated learning experiential placements in aᅠcommunity pharmacy environment.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Apply knowledge of the physiological processes and risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, haematological disorders, and renal disease.

LO2.

Apply knowledge of therapeutics for drugs affecting cardiovascular and renal systems by considering optimal treatment, prevention and care plans, and modify these when necessary.

LO3.

Discuss Over-The-Counter (OTC), alternative and complementary medicines, and lifestyle issues relevant to drug treatment strategies.

LO4.

Demonstrate skills in dispensing proprietary products.

LO5.

Demonstrate effective patient centred care on prescription and OTC medicines, and non-drug alternatives.

LO6.

Apply information retrieval skills by using appropriate resources in a given clinical situation.

LO7.

Appreciate cultural issues associated with pharmacy practice.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Portfolio Dispensing Portfolio
  • Hurdle
  • In-person
20%

5/03/2025 - 14/05/2025

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Placement, Reflection Placement Reflection and ILP
  • Hurdle
  • In-person
20%

16/05/2025 2:00 pm

Examination Online Closed-Book Inspera Exam (invigilated)
  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
  • Online
35%

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Examination Oral Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)
  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
25%

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Dispensing Portfolio

  • Hurdle
  • In-person
Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Portfolio
Weight
20%
Due date

5/03/2025 - 14/05/2025

Learning outcomes
L04, L05, L06

Task description

Dispensing Portfolio (Professional Practice Portfolio - PPP): Dispensing is a key skill required to practise as a pharmacist. It is therefore essential that pharmacy students can demonstrate a satisfactory understanding of the dispensing process prior to their graduation. There are 10 (ten) prescriptions to be dispensed, worth 2% each. This assessment is done during the five (5) dispensing tutorials so you need to attend the dispensing tutorials to be eligible to complete it. Each dispensing tutorial has between one and three pre-allocated prescriptions to dispense.

  • Scenario background: In this assessment students are taking the assumed role of a pharmacist. Imagine that your dispensing tutorials are in a pharmacy dispensary. Depending on the learning activity, the dispensing may involve checking prescriptions for clinical appropriateness, sorting out any administration and funding issues, product selection, and labelling medications including CALs.
  • Pre-allocated prescriptions from the dispensing student manuals will be dispensed and uploaded to Blackboard under a submission folder. You have until the end of day (5pm) after each dispensing tutorial to upload your evidence of dispensing (photo of the original Rx, product photo and your labels).
  • Students are encouraged to have your dispensing peer-checked prior to submission for accuracy and any errors (see below). Checking of dispensing is an essential step and is considered best practice.
  • The submission will be a single attempt and NO re-submission allowed. Each submission will be marked as either correct or incorrect.
  • The 10 pre-allocated prescriptions that make-up the portfolio (2% for each dispensing) will be uploaded to Blackboard by the student at the end of each dispensing tutorial as a JPEG (smart mobile photo) or Blackboard compatible format.

Learning resources will be made available under Assessment/Dispensing Accuracy on the PHRM3011 Blackboard site and will be discussed during tutorials. The recommended CAL labels document will also be made available in this location.

This task prohibits use of AI. This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Criteria & Marking: A marking guide will be provided in tutorials.

Hurdle requirements

You must submit each pre-allocated dispensing item to pass the course. There is no requirement to pass the dispensing item.

Submission guidelines

Submit through links on the PHRM3011 Blackboard site under 'dispensing portfolio'. Dispensing evidence will be uploaded to the ePortfolio folder and must include: 1) the original prescription with third-party PBS label attached, 2) the labelled product(s) and 3) the required CALs (according to the APF) appropriately attached to the product. There is no re-submission for this assessment. Dispensing to a patient is not a process that allows for multiple attempts.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Placement Reflection and ILP

  • Hurdle
  • In-person
Mode
Activity/ Performance, Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Placement, Reflection
Weight
20%
Due date

16/05/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L06, L07

Task description

The year 3 community pharmacy placement is over 6 consecutive weeks (Weeks 5-10 of semester 1) with 3-4 h of placement per week.

  • Attendance and participation in the Community Pharmacy Placement is a required component of PHRM3011. The focus (where possible) of this placement is on the supply of prescribed cardiovascular medicines. 
  • The placement MUST be unpaid, in accordance with university policy.
  • Placements can NOT be conducted until an agreement is in place between the placement pharmacy and the university. It is the student’s responsibility to check if their placement has been approved in InPlace before they attend their placement.
  • Absences due to illness are to be covered by a medical certificate that will be emailed to placements@pharmacy.uq.edu.au. On the day(s) when the student is unable to attend their placement, they should notify the preceptor (as soon as it is safe to do so) that they will not be attending the placement. Irrespective of medical certificates, any absences must be discussed at a convenient time to the preceptor as to the possibility of making up the hours and any updates to be made with notice to the Course Coordinator and by email to placements@pharmacy.uq.edu.au.
  • Where students identify circumstances that may affect their ability to undertake placement tasks, or complete their placement on time, this information must be communicated to the Course Coordinator and School of Pharmacy Administration as soon as possible to ensure that processes can be put in place to address the situation affecting the completion of the placement requirements.
  • Students are reminded that altering or falsifying any documentation that the University requires of the student (e.g. medical certificates or other academic documentation, such as placement attendance statements or other placement task documents) is university misconduct and the student will be held liable for their actions according to the University of Queensland Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

Reflection: Write up to a maximum of 300 words in which you reflect on your learning and the feedback you received from your preceptor. The reflection will provide the basis on which to prepare your ILP.

ILP: Draft an ILP and bring to your placement de-brief tutorial to discuss with your peers. Your ILP includes:

  • learning goals for your next placement,
  • skills development,
  • activities required to meet your goals and evaluation that you achieved your learning goals.

See the Learn.UQ (Blackboard) site for details and marking criteria.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

To pass this course you must attend the placement and achieve a pass for your Reflection and Individual Learning Plan (ILP).

Submission guidelines

Submit assessment components to the ePortfolio Reflective diary (One Case Only includes an individual learning plan/ILP); Evidence of developing skills (related to the case reflection); Dispensing tasks (ten items); and Placement attendance, Feedback and Student evaluation) through the links from the PHRM3011 Blackboard site (under 'Assessment', 'Community Pharmacy Placements') or to InPlace (Placement site details) as indicated.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Online Closed-Book Inspera Exam (invigilated)

  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
35%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

  • The End of Semester (EOS) final written exam (2 h + 10 min perusal) will consist of multiple choice questions (MCQs) and short answer questions (SAQs). The examination will assess knowledge (content) including application of knowledge to cases (see below).
  • Calculators may be necessary to check doses or make simple calculations e.g. BMI. See university restrictions.
  • The exam will be undertaken via the Inspera eAssessment platform (as will any deferred or supplementary written exams). Go to the Inspera Assessment Information page link to navigate to the Library Services web page which provides further information on: how to access Inspera, on-campus invigilated exams in Inspera, device requirements, familiarisation opportunities, submitting assessment and access to the Student Laptop Scheme and short-term laptop-loans.
  • Further details and marking information will be provided in the Blackboard site during semester. 

Case-based scenarios will be based on the following:

  1. heart failure
  2. hypertension
  3. acute coronary syndrome/heart disease
  4. an arrhythmia

In your response, you will be required to:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the pathophysiology of the condition being treated and the mechanisms by which key classes of drugs work,
  • apply the evidence and best-practice guidance regarding management of the condition to the individual,
  • identify and evaluate the risk of adverse events associated with treatment,
  • justify the management plan,
  • consider the ways in which individual patient factors and social situation affect treatment and outcomes,
  • evaluate and adjust the treatment plan as disease progresses.

This task prohibits use of AI. This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

This assessment is a hurdle. You must pass (i.e. obtain marks equivalent to 50% or greater) to pass the course.

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 120 minutes
Calculator options

(In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator

Open/closed book Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted
Exam platform Inspera
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

As per UQ Policy.

Oral Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)

  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Oral
Category
Examination
Weight
25%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L05, L06, L07

Task description

  • The oral clinical examination or OSCE is a school-based exam (In-Person) that is scheduled during the examination period (the exact date will be provided before end of semester). Student names and exam sessions will be posted on Blackboard prior to the exam revision period on the university calendar.
  • The oral exam will consist of two stations:

Station One [Discussion with a) Doctor and b) Patient; 10 min perusal; 10 min exam; 20% overall]: At this station you are required to 

  • a) identify, explain, and discuss with a doctor (10% overall), any potential issues that are identified after listening to an audio recording between a patient and a pharmacist. You will need to consider the patient's medicines, new, and existing. Clinical issues could include clarification of dose, appropriateness of dose, drug interactions, monitoring, appropriateness of therapy, optimising therapy, contra-indications or precautions, allergies, and previous adverse drug reactions. In addition, patient-centre care will be an important aspect of each case and identifying all patient specific factors, for example, difficultly remembering to take medicines or not understanding how a medicine helps or why is a reduced salt diet necessary.
  • After resolution of the clinical issue, you will then b) provide patient counselling (10% overall) to the 'patient' for the solution that was agreed to with the 'doctor'. During this interaction the student will need to explain to the patient how to use the medication including: dose; frequency; duration; adverse effects and their management, monitoring, and specific lifestyle issues in patient centred language.
  • Timings for the station are: 1) 10 minutes perusal to listen to the pharmacist-patient audio file, take notes, and peruse resources; and 2) 10 minutes to: a) discuss and resolve any identified issues with the doctor and b) provide patient counselling. Students need to manage the second 10 minute block to ensure that both of the required tasks are completed in the allocated time (allow ~ 5 min for each discussion). The focus is on communicating and explaining, and you should demonstrate understanding of the medication, medical condition and the context, including the patient’s situation - hence patient centred care (PCC). Resources are allowed for Station One (see below).

Station Two (Drug Knowledge; 5 min; no perusal; 5% overall): You will be provided with a cardiovascular drug to treat a specified condition. You will be required to answer questions from the examiner. The drug for station 2 will be a category 1 drug from the personal medicines formulary (PMF) (Year 3, Semester 1 only). Resources will not be allowed at this station and there will be no perusal. The examiner can guide the discussion based on the marking rubric - if desirable. This station examines your drug knowledge. These could include questions similar to:

  • i) drug dosing (e.g. starting, maintenance and maximum dose; situations where you might need to modify dose),
  • ii) class of medication, 
  • iii) indications/place in therapy and alternative options, 
  • iv) mechanism of action, 
  • v) common/important adverse effects, and 
  • vi) monitoring/lab tests (target test results).

Resources: Students are permitted to have ONLY a pen + blank paper (both provided by the school) and an approved calculator into the exam (see Section 6.1 of this ECP for information on the use of calculators in the examination; you may need a calculator to check doses). Students are NOT permitted to have any other resources into the exam; this includes but is not limited to, notes, phones, textbooks or watches. Access to key pharmacy texts are provided by the school for station one (latest versions of the AMH and APF). Students should ensure they are familiar with these resources prior to the exam. No resources are allowed for station two.

Resubmission: Students who attend but fail the oral structured clinical exam will be offered an opportunity to re-sit the exam. The maximum result for a re-sit exam is a pass (i.e. 50% of available marks). The re-sit assessment will be at a date and time determined by the course coordinator and cannot be deferred.

Assessment Recording: UQ policy requires that oral assessments worth 20% or more should have a students performance recorded and retained as the official recording of the item for re-mark purposes (and only for this purpose). This will be managed via a recorder for the face-to-face OSCEs.

This task prohibits use of AI. This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Criteria & Marking: The rubric will be provided during tutorials.

Hurdle requirements

This assessment is a hurdle. You must pass (i.e. obtain marks equivalent to 50% or greater) to pass the course.

Exam details

Planning time no planning time minutes
Duration 30 minutes
Calculator options

No calculators permitted

Open/closed book Closed Book examination - specified written materials permitted
Materials

School provided clinical resources for Station One.

Exam platform Other
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Submission: The oral consultation examination is a school-based exam that is scheduled during the examination period.

Resubmission: Students who fail the oral consultation exam will be given the opportunity to re-sit the assessment. The oral consultation exam re-sit will be held in the week following the examination period. Each student who is granted a re-sit will be informed by email. Students who are granted a resit for their oral consultation exam and do not attend on the scheduled date will not be permitted to reschedule the assessment (the re-sit exam cannot be deferred). The maximum mark for passing the re-sit will be 50% for the oral consultation exam.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 1 - 29

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 44

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.

Required

Item Description Further Requirement
Laptop for EoS exam You can borrow a laptop from the Library if you do not have a suitable device for your exam. Loans are for 24 hours or 28 days and stocks are limited. own item needed

Additional learning resources information

Additional Pharmacy Literature and references:

National Prescribing service - http://www.nps.org.au

Australian Prescriber - https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber

Australian Pharmacistᅠ- http://www.psa.org.au/membership/australian-pharmacistᅠ(need to be logged in; click Australian Pharmacist Online)

Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research - see UQ Library e-journals

Poisons Standard (formerly SUSDP) -ᅠhttp://www.comlaw.gov.au (search for 'poisons standard' and download the latest version)

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 13
(24 Feb - 01 Jun)

Not Timetabled

Cardiovascular conditions and therapeutics

Delivered via pre-recorded lectures: Cardiovascular risk, smoking cessation, therapeutics associated with cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, clotting disorders, hypertension, coronary (ischaemic) heart disease, blood lipid disorders, heart failure, renal conditions.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L06, L07

Tutorial

Dispensing and patient consulting

2h/week for 12 weeks; Arrhythmias (mainly AF), smoking cessation, hypertension (HTN), coronary (ischaemic) heart disease (CHD or IHD), and heart failure (HF).

Learning outcomes: L04

Multiple weeks

From Week 5 To Week 10
(24 Mar - 11 May)

Placement

Community Pharmacy Experiential Placement

3-4 hours per week for 6 weeks during semester (teaching weeks 5-10).

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05, L07

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course: