Pharmacy - MPharm

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding in the following three areas.

Substances used in medicines including:

• sources and purification of substances, including radio-labelled pharmaceuticals
• physico-chemical aspects of medicines and biological systems, including thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and an assessment of chemical and physical stability
• analytical methods including principles, design, development, validation, application and good laboratory practice
• the properties of medicinal substances and their relationship to molecular structure
• the design of medicinal agents and approaches to their discovery
• biotechnology products and excipients; pharmaceutical application of the technologies of genomics and proteomics.

Design and manufacture of medicines:

• the properties of materials used for the delivery of biologically-active molecules
• the principles of medicine formulation and systems for medicine delivery in the body
• quality assurance and good pharmaceutical manufacturing practice
• packaging and labelling requirements: purpose, design and evaluation
• pharmacopoeial and regulatory requirements
• stability of medicines; evaluation and control of biological, chemical and physical degradation
• microbial contamination and its control
• sterilisation processes and aseptic procedures
• dressings, diagnostic systems, medical appliances and devices.

The actions and uses of medicines and other agents:

• normal and abnormal bodily function: physiology; biochemistry; genetics; microbiology; nutrition; immunology; infective processes; pathology and pathophysiology
• the actions of medicines within living systems: molecular; cellular; biological and physical aspects
• absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of medicines, including routes of administration, concepts and mathematical modelling
• aetiology and epidemiology of major diseases
• the therapeutic uses of medicines in man, including adverse reactions to and interactions of medicines, and their significance in treatment
• the recognition of disease states and the management of symptoms
• the clinical evaluation of new medicines
• drug and substance misuse
• medicine delivery devices, wound management products and other medical devices (including diagnostic agents and devices)
• complementary therapies.

Legal framework, ethics and health care provision:

• the pharmacist's role in health care
• managing medicines: dispensing; clinical pharmacy (including good clinical practice); responding to symptoms; prescribing; provision of medicine and patient information; reporting of adverse reactions to medicines; medicine utilisation review
• measuring outcomes in support of evidence-based practice and achieving maximum clinical effectiveness
• health screening and promotion, including diagnostic testing
• the social and behavioural sciences relevant to pharmacy
• health policy and economics, including particularly pharmacoeconomics and pharmacoepidemiology
• the law relating to pharmacy and medicines
• ethics of health care and its impact on relationships with patients and other healthcare professionals
• the pharmacists' contribution to public health, which can be termed pharmaceutical public health
• health services research methodology
• the political, legislative and economic frameworks relevant to pharmacy
• the analysis and management of risk.

Intellectual skills

You gain intellectual skills in the following areas:

• the demonstration of knowledge and critical understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories
• the ability to apply the knowledge and understanding required to meet the needs of patients and other healthcare professionals
• the ability to recognise and analyse problems and plan strategies for their solution
• the critical evaluation, interpretation and synthesis of pharmaceutical information and data
• the production of pharmacy-specific scientific documentation
• the presentation of pharmaceutical science material and arguments clearly and correctly, in writing and orally, to both specialist and lay audiences
• calculation of medicine doses and dosage regimens
• the interpretation of patient and clinical data, including patient records held within practice settings
• the ability to contribute to the development of health care through reflective practice, enquiry and innovation
• the interpretation of prescriptions and other orders for medicines.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in the following areas:

• the safe handling of chemical and pharmaceutical materials, taking into account their physical and chemical properties, including any specific hazards associated with their use
• the ability to undertake risk assessments concerning pharmaceutical procedures and practices
• the skills required for the conduct of standard pharmaceutical laboratory procedures
• the planning, design and execution of self-directed and original research investigations, from the problem-recognition stage through to the evaluation of results and findings; the ability to select appropriate techniques and procedures
• the operation of standard pharmaceutical instrumentation
• the ability to evaluate and interpret data from laboratory and clinical observations, in terms of their significance and the underlying theory
• preparation and presentation of medicines, by manufacture and extemporaneous dispensing, including sterile products
•  skills in the analysis of medicines
•  the ability to advise patients and others on the safe and effective use of medicines.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills in the following areas:

• interpersonal skills including written and oral communication skills, teamworking, and the ability to interact effectively with patients, the public and healthcare professionals
• problem-solving, relating to qualitative and quantitative information, extending to situations where evaluations have to be made on the basis of limited information
• numeracy and computation, including such aspects as error analysis, order-of-magnitude estimations, correct use of units and modes of data presentation
• acquisition, transformation, interpretation and critical evaluation of data
• information retrieval in relation to primary and secondary information sources, including online searches
• information technology skills, including word processing, spreadsheet use, database use, archiving data and information, and internet communication
• time-management and organisation; the ability to plan and implement efficient and effective modes of working
• independent study skills as preparation for continuing professional development
• an ethical attitude and approach
• analysis and critical appraisal of published literature
• application of general, biological and medical statistics
• the ability to operate within a quality management framework
• recognition of the need to work within personal limitations.