PM0PHS-Foundation in Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:F
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Becky Green
Email: rebecca.green@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module is aimed at Foundation level students who want to learn more about and develop the skills needed in pharmaceutical and health sciences education. This module provides students with an introduction to pharmacy and other health-related professions and focuses on supporting the development of knowledge and skills necessary for students studying on healthcare and health sciences programmes.

Aims:

This module aims to:

• Develop skills in basic numeracy and pharmaceutical calculations


• Develop knowledge of the roles of various healthcare and health-related professionals, their professional responsibilities and healthcare values.


• Develop knowledge about the different pharmacy workplace settings.


• Develop a basic knowledge of public health issues, health behaviours and health promotion


• Develop a basic understanding of medical terminology


• Introduce basic principles of how diseases can be prevented or managed using medicines


• Introduce concepts of professionalism and through discussion of ethical dilemmas in healthcare and as students

At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the roles, values and professional responsibilities of various healthcare professionals. Students will be able to describe common health challenges that face our society and discuss how diseases might be prevented and/or treated. Numeracy skills and ability to perform basic pharmaceutical and healthcare-related calculations will be assessed.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the roles, values and professional responsibilities of various healthcare professionals. Students will be able describe common health challenges that face our society and discuss how diseases might be prevented and/or treated. The numeracy skills and ability to perform basic pharmaceutical and healthcare-related calculations will also be assessed.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of different healthcare professionals


• Demonstrate basic knowledge of public health issues and patient behaviours necessary for good health


• Describe how medicines are used to prevent or treat diseases


• Demonstrate competency in basic numeracy skills and use these skills to perform basic pharmaceutical calculations.


• Demonstrate an understandingof the importance of ethics in healthcare

Additional outcomes:

Students will develop communication and reflection skills through participation in critical discussions that focus on effective communication skills and ethical dilemmas. Students will also learn about the values and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals and consider the ethical implications of their professional practice.

Outline content:

Numeracy Topics:

• Diagnostic Assessment of numeracy Skills


• Topic 1: General numeracy skills including fractions, estimation and unit conversion


• Topic 2:  Pharmaceutical Calculations 1 involving units, amounts and dose calculations


• Topic 3: Algebraic Skills – basic algebraic skills that include introduction to logarithms


• Topic 4: Pharmaceutical Calculations 2 – dosage calculations,simple dilutions, unit conversions

Pharmacy and health science professional topics:

• Topic 1: Roles and responsibilities of health care professionals


• Topic 2: Professional behaviours and communication skills


• Topic 3: Public health and health promotion


• Topic 4: Ethical dilemmas – professional behaviours and values in healthcare professional


• Topic 5: Case study introducing concepts of treatment of disease

Global context:

Health promotion, health inequalities and ethical dilemmas in healthcare will be considered in a global context.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module will be delivered using lectures, tutorials, interactive workshops, case-based learning, screencasts and guided independent materials using the University’s virtual learning environment.  

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	6	7
Supervised time in studio/workshop	15	10	2
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (directed)	15	13
Exam revision/preparation	10	10	10
Advance preparation for classes	24	10
Revision and preparation	8	10	10
Essay preparation		20
Reflection	10	10
Total hours by term	88	90	22
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One numeracy exam (1 hour). This assessment must be passed at 40% as a requirement for progression on to Part 1 of the MPharm programme.

This exam is 50% of the module.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One set written exercise will be based on concepts of treatment of disease and will assess student learning from the Pharmacy and Health Science Professional Topics 1 to 5.

This written assignment is 50% of the module

Formative assessment methods:

Formative assessment methods used to support skills development and improve student performance will include pre and post workshop set exercises and Blackboard quizzes for supporting numeracy classes.  A diagnostic numeracy test will be used.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Students must achieve a mark of 40% to pass this module.

Student taking Foundation MPharm programme must also achieve a 40% pass mark in the summer term numeracy exam to progress onto Part 1 of the MPharm.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment of coursework is as below:

Students who fail the module (40% required) or pass the module but fail the Numeracy exam will be permitted to re-sit the exam, during the August examination period.



Failed coursework may be reassessed by an alternative piece of work, before or during the August examination period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023