Research in Quality Use of Medicines PG (11708.1)

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

The University of Canberra stipulates that the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (generative AI) or AI must not be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task published in the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. That is, artificial intelligence services may only be used if:

• Its uses are authorised by the unit convenor (or HDR supervisor) as part of a specified assessment task, and
• It is used in the way allowed in the assessment instructions and/or unit outline, and
• Its use is appropriately referenced, meaning that students must reference the use of AI in their assessment in the same way as they reference other source material.

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).

The following conditions will apply to late submissions without an approved extension:

• Mark adjustment: 5% of the maximum mark available for the assessment task will be deducted for each day late up until five days late. For example, an essay awarded 60% (60/100) submitted two days late will receive a mark adjustment of 5% per day; therefore, the adjusted maximum mark for that item will be 50% (50/100).
• Similarly, if the weighting is used, a piece of work worth 50% of the unit which received 30/50 would be reduced by 2.5 marks per day (i.e. 5% of 50) and would therefore receive a maximum adjusted mark of 25/50 if late by two days. 
• Submissions received more than seven 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 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.

Students must be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of Canvas and URKUND). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well, enabling adequate time to submit assessments before the deadline to avoid a mark adjustment.

Extensions

Students can apply for an extension to the submission due date for an assessment item due to extenuating, evidenced circumstances (specific details are found in the Assessment Procedures). An extension must be applied for before the due date. Documentary evidence (e.g. medical certificate) will be expected for an extension to be granted. However, this will not guarantee that the application will be successful. The Unit Convener or relevant Program Director/Course Convener will decide whether to give an extension and the length of the extension.

An Assignment Extension form is available from the Student Forms page.

Late submissions

Submissions must have an approved extension to avoid a penalty of 5% reduced marks from the total available per calendar day late. Any assignment submitted more than seven days after the due date will not be accepted.

Approval of extensions based on extenuating circumstances will depend upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

Special assessment requirements

To pass this unit, you MUST meet ALL the following requirements:

• Students must pass the Quality Use of Medicines Project and submit all project files. The pass mark for the research project submission is 50% or higher.
• Students must attain an overall unit mark of 50% or higher.

You must meet these requirements to succeed in the Unit.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

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

This unit involves real-time online meetings using the Virtual Rooms in your UCLearn teaching site or equivalent (if required). The Virtual Room lets you communicate with your lecturer and other students in real time. You will need a microphone to participate verbally rather than just typing. For the best audio quality, we recommend a microphone and speaker headset. For more information and to test your computer, visit the Virtual Room in your UCLearn site and 'Join Course Room'. This will trigger a tutorial to help familiarise you with the functionality of the virtual room.

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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