Clinical Therapeutics 1 (9003.2)

Required texts

Current editions of:

• Chisholm-Burns MA et al. Pharmacotherapy Principles & Practice. Current edition (latest edition). McGraw Hill Education. ISBN: 97812600190045
• UpToDate. Available from UC library: https://www-uptodate-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/contents/search 
• * *Rossi S, editor. Australian Medicines Handbook. Current edition. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd. Available:
  • online via the University of Canberra Library Pharmacy Subject Guide at URL: https://canberra.libguides.com/health/pharmacy
  • from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia bookshop at URL: https://shop.psa.org.au/
  • via the CaSPA representative
  • at the UC Library; call number: RM301.12.A97 200x

Recommended Text(s)

• **Therapeutic Guidelines, Therapeutics Guidelines Limited, North Melbourne, Australia. Computer access online via the UC library: https://app.tg.org.au/. It is recommended you purchase a complete set of books or electronic copy. Available from http://www.tg.org.au/
• AUSDI (unlimited access via UC library) Available at: https://canberra.libguides.com/health/pharmacy

Pricing available from School Locker* or by contacting publisher**. Note the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia may be able to provide student discounts.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students Links to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

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 can apply for an extension to the due date for submission/completion of an assessment item on the grounds of illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances (specific details are found through the Assessment Policy and Procedures Section 9.12). Extensions must be applied for before the due date as outlined above. For illness on the day of the assessment, the Assignment Extension form with relevant documentation must be lodged to the Unit Convener within three days of the scheduled exam, test, assignment, placement or assessment submission.

It should be noted that such documentation will be considered but will not guarantee that the extension application will be successful. The Unit Convener will decide whether to grant an extension and the length or availability of the extension.

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per examination/test/ placement (on the grounds of illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances as per UC policies) unless otherwise approved. Students must make themselves available for deferred exams and tests which will be scheduled by the unit convenor no later than the Friday of Week 11. For placements, please refer to the unit's Canvas site for further details and requirements. Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer a deferred intrasemester exam, test or placement. Any student unable to undertake the deferred intra¿semester exam, test, assignment or placement will receive a mark of zero or fail grade for the assessment task.

Students should note that this policy does not apply to deferred final exams which are centrally administered by the examinations office.

In the case of practice education /clinical placements, fieldwork, or other forms of practicums, moderation processes will be outlined on Canvas

Special assessment requirements

You are required to submit  the following piece(s) of assessment (AND attain a mark of 50% overall) to pass this Unit.

• Students must complete the final examination to pass this unit.  
• Students must undertake the hospital induction and placement* and submit forms by due date.
• Students must submit all assessments

* if applicable.

Supplementary Academic Integrity Information

Contract cheating

Contract cheating (academic outsourcing / ghost-writing) is a form of academic misconduct in which students submit written or creative work which has been drafted or produced by someone else and claim authorship for it.  It includes (but is not limited to) using a third party, offering their services for commercial or other benefits, to complete (either partially or fully) an assignment or other assessment items on behalf of the student.

You are at risk of contract cheating if you ask someone to:

• complete an assignment for you
• substantially edit your assignment
• do your university work for you, with or without compensation
• check test or quiz answers
• sit a test or quiz for you
• provide someone with your UC login details

You may also be at risk of contract cheating if you provide information to people or organisations outside UC, such as:

• assignment questions and briefs
• lecture notes
• marking rubrics and marking guides

Students should note that sharing their assignments (current or previously submitted assignments) may result in referral to the Associate Dean of Education for investigation.

UC considers contract cheating serious misconduct which may attract suspension or exclusion from the university.  Furthermore, we, as your education provider, have mandatory reporting responsibilities under National Law.  We are required to notify the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if we believe that a registered health practitioner (including those with student registration) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct including signature departure from accepted professional standards.  Contract cheating may also result in UC submitting a mandatory notification to AHPRA.

You can learn more about contract cheating in the Academic Integrity Module - which is a compulsory module that provides information about a range of issues including plagiarism and contract cheating.  UC provides a range of services to support student learning - further information regarding Study Skills, Studiosity and Medical & Counselling services are available in your unit's Canvas site.

Pharmacy students are expected to complete the AIM Quiz in the first two (2) weeks of their course.

No submitted assessment pieces will be marked in this unit until the Quiz has been completed (proof of successful AIM completion may be requested by the Unit Convener).

Using generative AI

The use of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is NOT permitted for the completion of any assessment item in this unit, most specifically content creation and answer creation, However, students are allowed to use low-level AI function such as improving spelling, grammar, and basic writing skills.

Student may use Gen AI tool in their learning experience at their own discretion and be responsible for their actions. Important to 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 be useful in some activities, and students will need to be familiar with its potential benefits for their future professional practice requirements. For further information please refer to UC library GenAI guide (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai ) and the Academic Integrity Module.

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.

Learner engagement

This unit involves placements and therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in this section. Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. Client/patient confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays. The professional nature of this unit also requires 100% participation at all learning activities (lectures, practicals, etc. if scheduled- see section 3) for the successful completion of this unit (also see section 6c). If attendance requirements cannot be satisfied (e.g. timetable clash), it is recommended that you meet your Course Convener to schedule this unit for a future semester.

Participation requirements

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Australian Pharmacy Council professional learning outcomes for this Unit. Lectures will be recorded, but the unit convenor can not guarantee this. It is recommended you attend lectures except when the unit convenor  has pre-recorded the lecture. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance is expected at all placements, externships, tutorials, practicals and presentations. It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash) it may be recommended that you 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 result in failure of the associated assessment piece. Consideration will be given for illness; however evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.

Contact details for the Unit Convenor and the Faculty of Health Placement Administration Office are given in Section 1.

Students undertaking this unit certify that they have completed the Safety Declaration Form for Practical Class Work. If students are unsure or not completed this declaration they should contact the unit convenor."

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

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

• Pre-placement vaccinations
• Discipline uniform and name badge to be worn on placements
• Cost of travel to placements
• Self-printing of electronically provided material.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involve a Hospital Placement, and therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in this section. Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. Client/patient confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays. The professional nature of this unit also requires 100% participation at all learning activities (lectures, practicals etc. if scheduled – see section 3) for the successful completion of this unit (also see section 6c).

If attendance requirements cannot be satisfied (e.g. timetable clash), it is recommended that you meet with your Course Convener to schedule this unit for a future semester.

To complete this unit, pharmacy students must successfully complete the minimum number of placement hours stated in this unit outline. However, students may choose to complete additional hours of work integrated learning (WIL) or experiential pharmacy placement. A written request must be submitted and approved by the unit convener prior to the commencement of any additional WIL. Please note paid employment does not contribute to additional WIL.

Clinical placements and externships are an essential part of the UC Pharmacy courses. They enable knowledge to be embedded in a clinical context through the use of trained clinical preceptors and practicing professionals. This cannot be attained in any other setting. The control of access to external facilities derives from contractual arrangements with ACT Health and other organisations and UC is obliged to accept the rules and regulations that govern who they will accept into their premises. It is beyond UC's control to influence the health facilities to change their acceptability requirements.

• The successful completion of clinical placements/externships is a mandatory element of the Unit and the assessment of the Unit; and
• Some or all of the external agencies require a police check prior to permitting a student to undertake the clinical placement/externship; and
• The results of the police check may be used as a basis to refuse access to a clinical placement/externship at the external agency. This decision is solely at the discretion of the external agency; and
• Students who do not attend (without relevant doumentation e.g. approved deferred application) their clinical placement/externship at agencies approved by the University are unable to complete the mandatory requirements of the Unit. In this case the student will receive a NC (fail) grade and will not be eligible for a refund of any fees; and
• If the successful completion of a Unit is a mandatory requirement for the completion of a Course, an inability to complete the Unit means the student is unable to complete the requirements of the Course.

Students also need to note that the external agency reserves the right to withdraw access to a clinical placement/externship at any time prior or during a placement/externship at the sole discretion of the agency. In these circumstances the same implications noted above may apply. An alternartive placement may be organised if the placement is cancelled through no fault of the student. The timeframe for this alternavtive assessment will be as outlined in Section 5a.

Students also need to note that they bear the full risk in relation to loss of access to clinical placements/externship and the University will not be liable if an agency withdraws access to a clinical placement/externship because of the actions or omissions of a student.

UC pre-placement requirements – e.g. vaccines, manual handling, police checks etc.

As part of this unit, students are required to undertake professional placement. Students must complete their pre-placement requirements before being able to undertake professional placement. Pre-placement requirements are to be uploaded to InPlace. After these requirements are completed (uploaded to InPlace and verified (green status), students will be allocated to their Professional Placements as required by their course of study.  Pre-placement requirements are located at: www.canberra.edu.au/placement 

Please refer to Canvas for pre-placement requirements and due dates

Student who have not met preplacement requirements by the specified due date will not be allocated a placement. This will result in a fail grade for the unit.

Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements (e.g. ACT Health & NSW e-learning modules etc.)

Some practice placement industry partners require students to complete further mandatory pre-placement requirements such as learning packages, prior to the commencing placement. Students will received specific instructions on what Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements are required to be completed and how to upload certificates of completion.  A due date will be set by the industry partner. Students are to complete the Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements and submit completion evidence as per the instructions of the specific industry partner by the due date.

Failure to complete mandatory industry partner pre-placement requirements by the due date will result in the practice placement being cancelled. This will result in a fail grade for the unit.

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 issue of confidentiality of information gained from clinical placements and externships. Students are expected to analyse their experiences from these as part of their academic study. In order to support learning while protecting 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 information, including 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 experience if possible. Students should note that this is a ‘composite' and 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.health.act.gov.au/privacy

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 or 12 pt – Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. (consistant)
• Margins no less than 1.5cm on all sides.
• Page number at bottom right hand corner of footer.
• Student identification number (number only) at top right hand corner of header.
• References given in NLM/Vancouver style (chronological numeric) ONLY. Information on this referencing styles can be found on the library website at https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536
• Assignment requirements (first page) as above.
• Any word limits specified in assignments (in this Unit Outline or in task descriptions on Canvas) will INCLUDE all tables, figures and appendices, but EXCLUDE references (unless otherwise stated).
• Submissions which 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 have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Pharmacy Board of Australia in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm. 

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications in relation to 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, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

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

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 obligations under student registration. 

For further information, please refer to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Pharmacy Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications available at: https://www.pharmacyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx 

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