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Unit outline_

PHAR5910: Dispensing 1

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit will introduce students to clinical practice and develops the theme that providing medicines is not a single event but a process. Students will start to develop skills to dispense and prescribe medicines (including prescription, non-prescription and compounded medicines), in collaboration with others.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 3
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

3cp of Calculus, 6cp of Biochemistry, 12cp of Chemistry

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Andrew Bartlett, andrew.bartlett@sydney.edu.au
Demonstrator(s) Natalie Lopez, natalie.lopez@sydney.edu.au
Prisca Akpabio, prisca.akpabio@sydney.edu.au
Kiplin Patanwala, kiplin.patanwala@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Jessica Pace, jessica.pace@sydney.edu.au
Andrew Bartlett, andrew.bartlett@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task group assignment Interprofessional Communication Education Safety Module
Clinical skills assessment
0% Multiple weeks 2 x1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Participation hurdle task Tutorial participation
Prework, professionalism, participation and portfolio completion
0% Multiple weeks 13 sessions. 85% attendance required
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Tutorial quiz hurdle task Competency quizzes
Pharmaceutical calculations, PBS pricing, Medication safety quizzes
0% Multiple weeks 3 x 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Skills-based evaluation hurdle task Dispensing practical exam
Practical exam
0% Multiple weeks 1.5 hours in week 7 and 12
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6
Skills-based evaluation hurdle task Dispensing skills assessment
Dispense and label 5 prescriptions using available dispensing software.
0% Multiple weeks 1.5 hours in week 13.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO6 LO7
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Class participation: Students are expected to participate in all tutorials and lab sessions in a professional manner. This includes completing all the pre-work before attending class. Satisfactory participation means submitting prework on time, attending classes on time, uploading their dispensing records and photo of each product to CANVAS after each class and their completed self and peer assessment logs, skills mastery sheet and properties of pharmaceutical ingredients at the end of semester, Sunday 3/11/2024 23:59
  • Tutorial quiz- PBS calculations: Quiz is completed during scheduled workshop time. Students will be required to accurately assess the ingredients and PBS status of a PBS products and price them accordingly.Pass mark required to satisfy the requirements of the course is 80%.
  • Tutorial quiz- Pharmaceutical calculations: Quiz is completed during scheduled workshop time. Students will be required to accurately calculated a range of pharmaceutical calculations. Pass mark required to satisfy requirements is 80%.
  • Tutorial quiz- Medication Safety: Quiz competed during scheduled workshop time. Students will identify and apply a range of strategies for improving medication safety and preventing medication errors. Pass mark required to satisfy requirements is 80%.
  • An additional opportunity may be offered during semester to reattempt quizzes not passed.
  • Final practical examinations: Students are required to identify type of product, write an appropriate method, prepare, dispense and submit one compounded product, and complete the associated examination dispensing record on each attempt. Students need 2 satisfactory compounded products and 2 satisfactory labelling and documentation for compounded products to pass the course. Students will have 4 attempts to achieve this- week 7 exam, week 12 exam and 2 free chance replacement exams in the main semester 1
  • Dispensing skills assessment  5 out of 5 labels marked as satisfactory are required according to the unit’s grading rubrics to pass.
  • Interprofessional Communication Education Safety Module: Students will collaborate in an interprofessional team to produce a transition of care plan. Students must complete all prework and inclass tasks, in order to pass the unit of study.

Repeating students: Exemption from practical classes for students repeating PHAR5910 will not be granted. Exemption may be considered for the Pharmaceutical calculation, PBS pricing and Medication safety quizzes if 80% pass mark was attained previously. Similary if the FRED competency assessment has previously been passed, exemption may be considered

 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

This unit of study is Grade only. No marks will be awarded.

Result Grade

Description

SR Satisfied Requirements

FR

Failed Requirements

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: After ten calendar days late, a mark of Unsatisfactory will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks Medication safety Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6
Interprofessional communication and collaboration. Workshop (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Ongoing Dispense medicines (including compounded medicines) Practical (18 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Case-based recorded presentations about the dispensed medicines (including compounded medicines) Lecture (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO7
learn Independently including pre-work and post work. Independent study (28 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 01 Introductory presentation for PHAR5910, Dispensing 1 Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO7
Introductory workshop on compounding resources such as APF and dispensing manual and skills such as writing methods and labels Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Compounding skills videos Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO7
Pharmaceutical calculations Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO7
Week 02 PBS pricing calculations Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO7
Skills mastery session in week 2 to orient them to the lab and lab equipment Practical (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

In accordance with the School Policy on Attendance, students must attend a minimum of 85% tutorial/lab/workshop to satisfy attendance requirements for this unit of study.

For more information see:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/medicine_health_PG/coursework_pz/pharmacy.shtml

If a tutorial/lab/workshop is missed due to illness or misadventure, students are to submit a special consideration application along with supporting documentation.

Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the commencement of the tutorial/ lab/workshop will be marked as absent. Students swapping a class without prior approval from the UoS co-ordinator will be marked as absent.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Current School of Pharmacy Dispensing Manual, AMH, APF, TGs and other pharmacy relevant databases

  • The Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF), 26th edition available through SUPA or the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply numeracy skills to the solution of pharmacy problems, including pharmaceutical calculations
  • LO2. prepare extemporaneous products to appropriate standards of safety and quality
  • LO3. communicate effectively with patients, families, carers, and other health care professionals
  • LO4. collaborate and contribute to the interprofessional health care team
  • LO5. elicit relevant health and medicines information, evaluate medication management, and establish an effective treatment plan
  • LO6. demonstrate understanding of laws that govern the supply of medicines and the practice of pharmacy
  • LO7. demonstrate the ability to learn independently and take responsibility for personal learning

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
3.12. consistently making accurate arithmetic calculations relating to health care
LO2
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
3.15. preparing and supplying extemporaneously compounded medications safely and accurately in accordance with current legislation, scope of practice, PharmBA Guidelines and other relevant jurisdictional requirements
LO3
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
2.1. communicating appropriately and effectively with a socially and culturally diverse range of people in a manner which inspires confidence and trust by
2.1.a. demonstrating appropriately tailored verbal, written and non-verbal communication
2.1.b. engaging with all persons in a respectful, culturally appropriate, compassionate, responsive and empathetic manner
2.1.c. demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or Māori history, communication styles and community protocols
2.1.d. demonstrating appropriate communication and interpersonal behaviours
2.2. documenting, communicating and recording relevant information, findings, decisions, recommendations and other information accurately and concisely, taking due account of privacy and confidentiality
LO4
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
2.3. contributing to the interprofessional collaborative health care team in order to optimise patient outcomes by
2.3.a. demonstrating an understanding and appreciation of the roles of pharmacists and other members of the interprofessional collaborative care team
2.3.b. creating and maintaining effective intra- and interprofessional relationships, and working in partnership to achieve negotiated, agreed-upon objectives
2.3.c. demonstrating appropriate teamwork behaviours
2.3.d. demonstrating appropriate communication at transition points in patient care to reduce risks to patients and ensure safe and effective continuity of patient care
LO5
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
3.6. obtaining relevant health, medical and medication information from patients, carers and other clients
3.7. assessing current health, medical and medication histories and profiles of patients
3.8. formulating health, medical and medication management plans in collaboration with patients, carers and other health team members
3.9. recommending appropriate monitoring of the outcomes of health, medical and medication management plans and recommending adjustments to them where appropriate in collaboration with patients, carers and other health team members
LO6
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
1.4. practising legally by
1.4.a. demonstrating contemporary knowledge and application of legal requirements relating to community and hospital pharmacy practice within their jurisdiction
LO7
Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - APC
1.6. demonstrating a proactive and reflective approach to developing their own professional competence and expertise
1.8. accepting personal responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions in simulated and/or work-integrated learning environments

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit has been redesigned to focus on compounding of prescription medicines, calculation competency along with a dispensing software competency to prepare students for placement.

Hard copy of the current APF is required along with a hard copy of the current Sydney University dispensing Manual

all students must:

  • wear a clean white laboratory coat
  • wear clothing that covers torso and legs (short shorts and short skirts are not permitted)
  • wear shoes which completely cover the feet (no sandals or thongs are permitted)
  • ensure that long hair is tied back
  • wear safety glasses when working with ingredients

Required materials: The following equipment is required in addition to the specified texts and references: two spatulas, one small and one large or medium, a marker pen.

Work, health and safety

Students must comply with the School of Pharmacy’s Laboratory Safety Guidelines.

When preparing products or working with ingredients, all students must wear rubber gloves (supplied in the laboratory) and safety glasses which meet the requirements as displayed in the notice boards in the dispensing laboratory.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.