PgDip Pharmacy Practice (Top-up to MSc)

This module aims to develop and consolidate understanding of the skills, knowledge and attributes required for safe, and effective treatment of dermatological conditions. Successful completion will provide a deeper knowledge and understanding of the pharmacokinetics of topical and systemic treatments used to treat skin disease. Students will gain an increased understanding of key factors to consider when choosing treatment options including risk, cost, evidence about efficacy, disease severity and patient's response to treatment, inlcuding potential adverse. 

The module will develop and enhance patient consultation skills to formulate effective patient centred treatment options for a range of dermatology conditions whilst focusing on specialist knowledge of systemic and topical drug therapies used to treat skin disease.

This module is compulsory for the MSc Clinical Dermatology. It is suitable for practitioners with an interest in dermatological conditions and will be of interest to FY1-2, GPs, Dermatology Nurses, Advanced Care Practitioners, hospital and retail Pharmacists who are managing people with skin conditions on a regular basis.

This module develops the students’ ability to design and execute a research project in an area of relevance to pharmacy under the supervision of an academic supervisor. During the first weeks of the module, the students will review the related literature and generate a research question. A summative literature review and research proposal will be submitted to the project supervisor for feedback and guidance. The data collection and analysis will be based on the agreed proposal, followed by the production of the dissertation demonstrating the student’s critical understanding and interpretation of the methodologies and results of their research. The results should be disseminated through a poster presentation. 

The module is delivered through class based teaching and online resources to enable the students to critically understand the principles of research design and how to choose an appropriate research methodology. Methods of sampling and data gathering will be addressed including experimentation, questionnaires, interviews, case studies, action research, content, framework or thematic analysis and observation. Quantitative and qualitative data, their statistical description, analysis, interpretation, presentation and reporting will be also be explored. 

The majority of learning will be self-directed, supported by regular sessions with the supervisor.

Knowledge and understanding is delivered through independent research, feedback from the project supervisor, directed reading, case studies and resources provided through the StudyNet site for the module. Knowledge and understanding is assessed through the dissertation and poster presentation on the research carried out. Skills and attributes are developed through the research investigation and through the use of the interactive facilities on the StudyNet site and tutor feedback.

This module covers skills in literature searching, information retrieval, and provides the opportunity to use electronic search databases and critical appraisal of evidence. You will be expected to challenge current practice by conducting a literature search and producing critique of a published study. These skills will inform your clinical decision making.

Content: 

Includes the following:

• Understanding of the importance of evidence to inform practice and the impact of the hierarchy of evidence

• Efficient and systematic searching of appropriately identified databases

• Retrieval of research evidence to answer an agreed research question relevant to the student's programme of study

• Development of critical appraisal skills

• Applying the evidence identified to the student's own area of practice

Full time students should have had relevant and recent work experience

Note: no attendance at the University is required. This is an online module. You will need to have access to a computer from between 1230 and 1430 hrs GMT on each of the above dates to access live online taught sessions by academic staff. These sessions will be recorded for repeat viewing but it is better if you participate in person as there will be opportunity to ask questions.

The module leader is Rebecca Penzer-Hick - r.penzer-hick@herts.ac.uk 

Madeleine Flanagan is Programme Lead for MSc Dermatology - m.flanagan@herts.ac.uk and Kathy Radley is Programme Lead for MSc Skin Lesion Management - k.radley@herts.ac.uk

This module has been designed to enable students to demonstrate an extensive, detailed and critical understanding of health care related project management from both academic and professional perspectives. It will enable you to engage in independent study in order to undertake a comprehensive project plan for the introduction of a change, which will be of value to your area of work. The project will be an analysis of an issue related to your professional discipline, which will require you to explore critically the relevant literature, developing new insights and perspectives. Ideally, this should be a proposal for a project you wish to implement in the future.

Key content is delivered face to face and online on 3 days teaching to guide you through this project. You will also be supported by an individual supervisor but as this project is the final module for the majority of students it represents a culmination of the knowledge and skills learnt during your postgraduate studies and is student led. Some sessions will be live to encourage participation and exchange of ideas but will be recorded so they can be viewed at a later date.     

This module has been designed to enable students to undertake this module as the final part of all Master’s programmes offered by the School of Postgraduate Medicine.