Research in Quality Use of Medicines (11644.1)

Required texts

Required Textbook:

• None

Other Recommended Resources:

• Therapeutic Guidelines, Therapeutics Guidelines Limited, North Melbourne. (e-copy available online via UC library)
• Rossi S, ed. (current edition) Australian Medicines Handbook. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd. (e-copy available online via UC library)
• Gosall, Narinder & Gosall Gurpal. The doctor's guide to critical appraisal. 4th ed. 2015. Available at UC library (R723.7.G67 2015).
• Crombie, I. The Pocket Guide to Critical Appraisal. BMJ Publishing Group. 1996. Available at UC library (R118.6.C76 1996).

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Any assessment item submitted WITHOUT the specified information on the first page will be returned to the student and not marked until this requirement is met. Late penalties will be applied (see below).

• Mark adjustment: 10% of the maximum mark available for the assessment task will be deducted for each day late up to 3 days. For example an essay awarded 60% (60/100) submitted 2 days late will receive a mark adjustment of 10% per day, therefore, the adjusted maximum mark for that item will be 40% (40/100).
• Similarly, if weighting is used then a piece of work worth 50% of the unit which received 30/50 would be reduced by 5 marks per day (i.e. 10% of 50) and would therefore receive a maximum adjusted mark of 20/50 if late by two days.
• Submissions received more than 3 days after the prescribed date and time will not be accepted for marking, a mark of zero (0) will be awarded for the item.
• For the purposes of these penalties, all days of the week count, including weekends and public holidays, even when the University may be closed.
• The minimum possible mark for late submission is zero.
• For clarification, one (1) minute past the specified due date and time is considered a late submission.

It is students' responsibility to be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of CANVAS and Turnitin). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well enabling adequate time to submit assessments prior to the deadline, in order to avoid a mark adjustment.

Extensions to assignments, placements, deferred intra-semester tests and examinations

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per intra-semester test/examination/placement (on the grounds of illness or other special circumstances as per UC Assessment Procedures). Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer an already deferred intra-semester test, exam or placement. A request for extensions / deferral must be on the Assessment Extension form with relevant documentation and must be lodged with the Unit Convener as soon as possible and no later than 3 business days from the due date. Students should note that deferral of exams held in the Final Assessment Period (which are centrally timetabled) follow a different process and are assessed by the examinations office.

Students must make themselves available for deferred assessments and placements which will be scheduled by the unit convener as per UC Assessment Procedures. For placements, please refer to the unit's Canvas site for further details and requirements. Any student unable to undertake the deferred intra-semester test, exam, assignment or placement will receive a mark of zero or fail grade for that assessment task.

Special assessment requirements

To pass this unit, students need to achieve all the following requirements:

• Achieve an overall grade of 50% or higher
• Complete at least the two assessment items: research poster (including submitting data files) and research presentation

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

This Unit contains participatory elements vital to the Australian Pharmacy Council professional learning outcomes for this Unit. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance is expected at all lectures, and 100% participation is required in all placements, externships, tutorials, practicals and presentations (including virtual classes for remote learning). Students unable to fulfil these participation requirements are expected to inform the Unit Convener by telephone or email as soon as possible. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash), you may be recommended to schedule this unit for a future semester. Absence from external placement activities must also be reported to the relevant clinical placement coordinator and preceptor. Failure to adhere to these requirements may fail the associated assessment piece. Consideration will be given for illness; however, evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.

Required IT skills

Students should be conversant with searching for and accessing information via electronic means; the use of Canvas; and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

Using generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can aid but should not replace independent thinking. If using genAI tools for the major project (topic development, book chapter, multimedia presentation), acknowledge their use in or provide an appropriate citation. Acknowledgement is not required for low-level tasks such as improving spelling, grammar, and quality of written expression.

You are responsible for content you submit. Be aware of limitations of genAI tools such as inaccuracies, biases, and incomplete content. GenAI tools work best for topics you already understand, with carefully crafted prompting based on peer-reviewed research. Refine prompts for better results and fact-check generated content. Despite the risks, genAI tools can aid brainstorming, concept explanation, synthesis of ideas, and improve the readability and quality of written expression. For further information please refer to UC library GenAI guide (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai) and the Academic Integrity Module.

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

• Self-printing of electronically provided material
• Purchase of text textbooks and/oandning material
• Computer, electronic accessories, and reasonable access to stable internet for online learning
• Travel to the project site for projects hosted by external supervisors

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Privacy and Confidentiality

As part of its partnership arrangements with Health Agencies, the Faculty of Health at the University of Canberra is aware of the confidentiality of information gained from clinical placements and externships. Students are expected to analyse their experiences from these as part of their academic study. To support learning while protecting the confidentiality of information, the following guidelines have been developed:

1. Pseudonyms should be used for the names of patients and organisations in all academic work.
2. Identifying demographic information should be modified in academic work, using terminology such as ‘similar to'.
3. Students should mark all academic work with sensitive information as ‘in-confidence' in the footer.
4. Students should develop ‘composite' patients/clients based upon their experiences with several patients or clients in one clinical expertise, if possible. Students should note that this is a ‘composite' not intended to identify a single person.
5. Students should use the password-protect function on their word processing programs to further guard sensitive information.
6. Students should avoid naming other students in academic work, such as reflective pieces or portfolios.
7. Students should attend workshops for health science students on how to change information about patients in line with these recommendations.

For further information, students may visit https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-for-health-service-providers/ 

Pharmacy Style Guide for report formatting

Unless otherwise approved (in writing), all written assessment pieces (formative and summative) must conform to the following requirements:

• Headings in bold, maximum font size 16 pt.
• Font size: 11 pt – Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri.
• Margins no less than 1.5cm on all sides.
• Page number at the bottom right-hand corner of the footer.
• Student identification number (number only) at the top right-hand corner of the header.
• References are only in NLM/Vancouver style (chronological numeric). Information on these referencing styles can be found on the library website at https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536
• Privacy statements if required.
• Assignment requirements (first page).
• Any word limits specified in assignments (in this Unit Outline or task descriptions on Canvas) will INCLUDE all tables, figures and appendices but EXCLUDE references (unless otherwise stated).
• Submissions that exceed the specified word (or page) length will be truncated at the word (or page) limit and only assessed to this point.

Mandatory Notifications to the Pharmacy Board of Australia

Pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, pharmacy practitioners (registered pharmacists) and education providers must report ‘notifiable conduct' to the Pharmacy Board of Australia to prevent the public from being harmed. 

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications about students, if the provider reasonably believes:

a) a student enrolled with the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm; or

b) a student for whom the provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training.

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification about a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm in the course of the student undertaking clinical training.

All concerns raised within the Discipline of Pharmacy or by clinical preceptors will be reviewed by the Head of Discipline and the Course Convener before any reporting action is taken.

These professional obligations are taken seriously by staff and the University.  Students should be aware of their duties under student registration. 

For further information, please refer to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Pharmacy Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications at: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Notifications/Raise-a-concern/Mandatory-notifications.aspx.

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