Medicines Optimisation - PCert, PDip, MSc

Teaching

Teaching and assessment

• Case study analysis
• Critical appraisal of the literature
• Written assignments which include short essays
• Development of service specifications
• Narratives linking evidence with practice

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to medicines management services and to individual drug therapy decisions in primary and secondary care.
• enable you to incorporate your learning directly into your workplace and to rise to the challenges presented by the new, patient-centred NHS.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

• medicines management
• applied therapeutics
• adherence, concordance and compliance
• effective methods of working with patients and other healthcare professionals
• ethical issues influencing prescribing decisions
• pharmaceutical care planning and medication review
• individualising therapy in a variety of patient settings and conditions
• drug monitoring in the context of co-morbidities
• clinical governance in the context of medicines management
• effective use of complex clinical data sets
• public health and its role in improving the health of the nation
• health economics
• management.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

• recognising, synthesising and applying appropriate theories, concepts and principles from a range of disciplines and sources
• integrating previous learning with professional skills and expertise to synthesise innovative approaches to medicines management in order to support individualised patient care
• making sound judgements about medication issues in the absence of complete data and communicating conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• analysing and resolving your own learning needs
• contributing to the improvement of health outcomes for populations and individuals through reflective practice and innovation
• strategic planning
• experimental design, use of appropriate research and statistical techniques.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

• the planning, conduct, evaluation, interpretation and reporting the results of clinical investigations in the context of defined patient outcomes
• the ability to search for information and evidence to inform and support individualised drug therapy decisions
• effective communication of drug therapy decisions to patients and other healthcare professionals
• the management of professional teams, working with other organisations, self-management.

Transferable skills

You will gain the following transferable skills:

• critical self-reflection and the ability to enhance professional competence on the basis of feedback from yourself and others
• the ability to communicate with clarity in both the academic and professional setting to a range of audiences and using a variety of approaches
• the ability to effectively manage and present complex information using a comprehensive range of learning resources.

Additional costs

Fees

See the Medway School of Pharmacy website for postgraduate fees.

For more information please email MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk

Funding

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

• University and external funds
• Scholarships specific to the academic school delivering this programme.

Careers

Graduates who obtain their PhD from Kent or Greenwich are highly sought after by prospective employers, both within the UK and overseas. Destinations for doctoral graduates include university academic departments, research institutes and leading pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies.

The taught postgraduate programmes are designed to promote the continuing professional development by providing sought-after skills. The programmes are beneficial for those who wish to develop their skills and/or to take the next step in their career.

Study support

Postgraduate resources

Postgraduate students have access to all the facilities at the Medway School of Pharmacy, including clinical skills labs and a ‘simulation man’. As the School of Pharmacy is a joint venture between the two universities, students have access to facilities at Kent’s Medway and Canterbury campuses, and the University of Greenwich.

Flexible programmes

Programmes are in units of five, ten, 15 and 30 credits. This variable credit structure enables you to individualise your study programme to suit your needs.

Dynamic publishing culture

Medway School of Pharmacy has a research culture and as such postgraduate students publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice; Nephron Physiology; Acta Physiologica; Purinergic Signalling; and European Journal of Pharmacology.

Global Skills Award

All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.