Master of Pharmacy in Advanced Clinical Pharmacy

Purpose

This Master of Pharmacy: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy is a co-ordinated structured qualification aimed at education, training, research and practice. It builds upon knowledge, skills, attitudes and competence gained from an accredited professional Pharmacy Degree.

The first part of the Master of Pharmacy: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy supports the planning and development of a research proposal and focuses on ethics, grant applications and communication skills. It also enhances the learner's general competencies in the support of optimal medication therapy outcomes and in the monitoring of patients with a broad range of disease states through basic science and practice and in the management of medication-use systems.

The second part of the Master of Pharmacy: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy focuses on clinical research and the application of the detailed clinical knowledge gained in the first part of the qualification in patient assessments and hands-on case studies. Expertise is used proactively to ensure and advance rational drug therapy.

Learners undertaking the Master of Pharmacy: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy, are provided the opportunity to further their growth beyond entry-level professional competence in patient-centred care, pharmacy management services and in leadership skills that can be applied in any position, regardless of the practice setting. It sets the basis for clinical research and adds the competencies that contribute to working successfully in the health care environment as a motivated and innovative pharmacist.

Rationale

Training of pharmacists must comply with the Regulations of the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) and the latest international trends in the sector to move to a more clinical approach in the profession.

The need for clinical pharmacists exists in South Africa with posts already created in the public and private sectors. With the shortage of pharmacists, especially pharmacists with clinical skills, people with inappropriate training are being appointed in newly created clinical pharmacist posts.

A Master's Degree: Advanced Clinical Pharmacy provides a professional postgraduate training in pharmacy that supports this expanding role of pharmacists. It is multi-disciplinary and multi-factorial, focused on the function of the evolving clinical pharmacist, producing a well-equipped and clinically skilled pharmacist who can provide the patient with the required optimal high-level pharmaceutical care.

Knowledge of the fundamental principles and concepts of research and statistical methods at NQF Level 8.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning may be used to grant access to the qualification to learners who do not have sufficient formal academic achievement, but who have proven expertise and competency. Candidates may apply for exemption from certain modules on grounds of prior relevant study.

Access to Qualification

An applicant must have completed a Bachelor Degree: Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and must hold a current registration as a pharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC).

The qualification comprises theoretical modules at NQF Level 9 worth a total of 128 credits and a research component which requires the production of an accepted mini-dissertation worth 64 credits.

All 192 credits must be obtained to be awarded the qualification.

Modules

• Clinical Pharmacy, Social Pharmacy, and Professional Practice, 16 credits.
• Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics and Therapeutic Outcomes Management I, 40 credits.
• Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics and Therapeutic Outcomes Management II, 24 credits.
• Clinical Drug Toxicology, Drug Therapy in Oncology and the Management of Drug Abuse, 16 credits.
• Clinical Epidemiology, Research Methodology, Biostatistics, and Evidence-based Medicine, 32 credits.

Research

• Mini-dissertation, 64 credits.

1. Manage and improve the medication-use process by ensuring a quality medication-use system.
2. Provide evidence-based, patient-centred medication therapy management within multi-disciplinary health care teams.
3. Exercise leadership and clinical practice management skills through the development, implementation, evaluation and provision of pharmaceutical care plans.
4. Provide advanced clinical services and practice-related evidence-based information, education and training to diverse specialists.
5. Utilise medical informatics and manage clinical audits of medicine utilisation.
6. Design, implement and justify clinical programmes to enhance the efficacy of patient care (protocol and guideline development as well as policies and procedures).
7. Perform clinical pharmacy research.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

This qualification enables all the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes to be addressed.

The Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated way to all Exit Level Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and a professional attitude in the interpretation of clinical and epidemiological studies for use in patient health assessment.
• Generate a complete patient history.
• Develop and integrate social and clinical skills, evidence-based studying and patient-centred decision-making in each individual case study.
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the components that form a laboratory result and their clinical application, with special reference to certain areas, such as diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, electrolyte imbalances, liver function tests, full blood count, and iron disorders.
• Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between pathophysiological principles and the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, prognosis and management of common diseases.
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of specialised areas of pharmacotherapy and an appreciation of the current range of theoretical and research understanding in those areas.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomical and physiological factors which influence drug delivery and elimination of drugs.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion processes of toxicants (toxico-kinetics).
• Demonstrate an understanding of target organ toxicity, typical mechanisms, and consequences involving specific organ systems.
• Describe methods involved in the evaluation of toxic effects on selected organ systems.
• Critically evaluate primary literature in pharmacology and toxicology.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the statistical methods commonly employed in biomedical sciences, population distributions and sampling and interpret experimental data in terms of their biological significance for the population as a whole and the individual patient.
• Demonstrate specialist knowledge and critical understanding of clinical pharmacy to enable engagement with research in this practice.
• Create, design and explore a work-based learning project to evaluate an issue in practice in a specialised area and evaluate this research with appropriate justification.
• Demonstrate understanding of principles, theories and techniques relevant to clinical pharmacy to identify a complex and real-world clinical problem.
• Undertake relevant literature surveys, including the analysis, evaluation and integration of information, and apply it to structured research and solve a problem.
• Communicate research results effectively and ethically in a scientifically acceptable article format.
• Verbally present research findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences, using supportive information technology.
• Participate in and contribute to a multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
• Critically analyse research reports, report on own research and apply research findings to specific clinical settings.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment strategy focuses on competence, which is demonstrated and assessed through a variety of means, both formative and summative.

Formative assessment includes individual assignments, projects or practical projects, group/syndicate assignments, case studies, written tests and presentations.

Summative assessment includes written examination and practical component and may also include an oral examination, where applicable.