FACULTY OF PHARMACY

PHAR1811 Foundations of Pharmacy Semester 1 2016

Unit of Study Outline

Contact Details
Name of Course Coordinator
Telephone number of
coordinator
e-mail address of coordinator
Consultation times for
coordinator

A/Prof Timothy F Chen

9351 4440
timothy.chen@sydney.edu.au
Initial consultation by email (Please include PHAR1811 in
email subject)

Brief Description of the Unit of Study

Foundations of Pharmacy is a broad introduction to the discipline of pharmacy and the roles
that pharmacists play in health care as well as the ideas, issues, skills and knowledge base
required of a professional pharmacist. A number of topics are introduced but not covered in
depth. They will be further developed in subsequent units of study and later years of the
degree. Specific skills in research, critical thinking, writing and presenting are developed in
the context of activities designed to orient students to their future profession. The intent is
that students begin to think and behave as future members of the profession of pharmacy,
and reflect upon the attitudes and beliefs that will shape their practice.

Unit of study aims/goals

How this unit of study relates
to other studied units

The key focus or purpose of

this unit

This unit is a foundational unit in the Bachelor of Pharmacy

degree.
The key focus of this unit is to introduce students to the
broad discipline of pharmacy and the role of pharmacists
within the health care system. A secondary focus is to
assist students to appreciate the standards required of
tertiary study and to assist them to develop appropriate
skills.

How this unit of study

prepares students for
subsequent units

This unit underpins subsequent units in social pharmacy

and pharmacy practice.

How this unit helps students

to develop generic or other
skills

This unit specifically allows students to develop their skills

in:
1. identifying, accessing, organising and
communicating knowledge
2. problem solving
3. planning and achieving goals
4. working with others

Unit of Study Outline

Curriculum Learning Outcomes for this Unit of Study

On successful completion of this unit of study, you will be able to do a number of things,
some new and some differently from the ways you have done in the past. The Faculty has a
comprehensive set of goals and learning outcomes for the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree,
which are broken down into outcomes for each year of study and are covered in the units
which are covered in each year. For Foundations of Pharmacy, the detailed learning
outcomes are listed in the following table. The learning outcomes are listed under four
themes which create the framework for your learning in the Pharmacy degree.

THEME: BASIC AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (BPS)

1. Critically examines scientific evidence - both quantitative and qualitative - in

order to arrive at evidence based conclusions.

a. use the most relevant pharmacy databases to search both electronic and hard
copy resources to locate specific papers and to find relevant resources related
to topics as allocated
b. identify different types of publications
c. identify the structures of typical publications such as primary research and
review articles
d. critically evaluate the quality of a range of sources of information
2. Takes opportunities to engage in research and scientific endeavour
a. demonstrate an understanding of the historical and paradigmatic basis of
scientific method
3. Identifies sources of drugs, the way they are discovered, purified, characterised
and analysed, and their physico-chemical properties
a. describe the origin of early medicines

THEME: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN PHARMACY (PPP)

1. Provides pharmacy cognitive services
a. identify and describe the roles of pharmacists in delivery of cognitive services
2. Provides prescription medicines and appropriate advice and counselling
a. describe the role of the pharmacist in providing advice and information about

medicines
b. identify the basic elements of a prescription and describe in general terms the

processes associated with prescribing and dispensing medicines

3. Provides over the counter products using endorsed professional protocols
a. recognise the range of practice protocols and quality assurance processes in

place in community pharmacy

4. Prepares simple extemporaneous products to appropriate standards of safety

and quality
a. use dispensing equipment to prepare simple extemporaneous products from
supplied formulas
5. Provides patient education in relation to medicines and therapeutic and
monitoring devices
a. recognise the role of the pharmacist in patient education
6. Demonstrates an understanding of management and organisational principles
and their application in pharmacy settings
a. outline the type and extent of business operations that would typically occur in
a small-business community pharmacy
b. demonstrate a preliminary understanding of HR principles applicable to staff in
a small pharmacy business including legal issues and complaint procedures
7. Demonstrates an understanding of the issues associated with the delivery of
pharmaceutical services in a range of rural and remote settings
a. discuss the factors that impact upon health - the social determinants - and
PHAR1811
Page 2 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

how these impact upon the health status of rural and remote populations.
b. apply the definitions and differences between urban, rural and remote

communities in Australia to practice - geographically, historically, culturally,

socio-economically, and demographically.
c. describe who the rural and remote health workforce are, what they do, and
identify the opportunities and support systems for students who want to work
there.

THEME: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PPD)

1. Applies appropriate principles and reasoning skills to address ethical dilemmas

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

in professional and business practice

a. demonstrate awareness of the ethical orientation of the profession including
issues such as conflict of interest, confidentiality
Demonstrates appropriate attitudes and values in personal and professional
dealings and business practice
a. justify and apply an appropriate dress and behaviour code regarding
professional presentation in the workplace
Works effectively and cooperatively as a member of a learning group/team
a. carry out tasks which require cooperation between students within the
classroom
b. organise cooperative activities using electronic communication in self-selected
groups
c. describe the difference between legitimate cooperation and plagiarism and
carry out all cooperative tasks within the boundaries of legitimate cooperation
Engages in continuous reflection and takes responsibility for personal and
professional development
a. identify the characteristics of reflective writing as distinct from other forms of
writing
b. identify and describe appropriate sources of information and learning
materials which are not specifically included in formal curriculum documents
c. explain the concept of lifelong learning and its importance for pharmacists
Demonstrates the ability to learn independently and take responsibility for own
learning
a. identify strengths and weaknesses in learning
b. seek constructive feedback from others in the pursuit of learning goals
c. identify learning issues to guide individual study
d. develop and implement plan to address learning issues
e. identify appropriate sources of information
f. locate and summarise required or relevant information
g. communicate effectively and efficiently to colleagues, the outcome of
individual study
Demonstrates understanding of laws that govern the supply of medicines and
the practice of Pharmacy
a. recognise the Poisons Schedules which govern the supply of medicines in
NSW
b. describe, in general terms, how the supply of medicines in Australia is
regulated
c. explain the general rules governing the supply of prescription only, pharmacist
only and pharmacy only medicines in Australia

THEME: SOCIETY AND PHARMACIST (SP)

1. Demonstrates an understanding of the health care system in Australia and the

roles of the pharmacist within it

a. outline the key components of the Australian health care system, including the
PBS, primary, secondary and tertiary care, private health care, pharmaceutical

PHAR1811
Page 3 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

industry
b. define essential medicines. Also define appropriateness and rational in

regards to how medicines are prescribed.

describe the National Medicines Policy and the role of pharmacists in the
implementation of this policy
2. Promotes "best practice" in the pharmacotherapeutic management of drug
dependence
a. distinguish between dependent, recreational, harmful and hazardous use of
alcohol and drugs of dependence
b. question social attitudes towards drug dependence and the individual
c. demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of the pharmacist and harm
minimisation
d. recognise the pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of opioid and alcohol
dependency
c.

Please note that these skills and knowledge are preliminary and foundational you are not
expected to be an expert by the end of first year. A more concise summary of the learning
outcomes is as follows:
On successful completion of this unit of study, you should be able to:

outline in general terms the fundamental characteristics of the profession of

pharmacy, including professional and ethical dimensions, and describe some of the
roles played by pharmacists in Australian settings
discuss briefly some of the critical stages in the history of medicine, medicines and
pharmacy
describe the broad structure of the health care system in Australia and the place of
medicines within the overall framework
use simple descriptive statistical techniques to summarise and analyse data
search databases for appropriate source materials and critically evaluate the quality
and reliability of such sources
describe and apply writing and referencing techniques appropriate to university study,
and recognise and avoid plagiarism in all forms

and you will have developed skills in:

working effectively and collaboratively as a member of a learning group

managing and presenting the results of individual and group project work in written
and visual form

Alignment of Curriculum Learning Outcomes, learning activities and

assessments
How the assessments in this Unit of Study support the Units learning outcomes

Learning outcome
Critically examines scientific
evidence - both quantitative and
qualitative - in order to arrive at
evidence based conclusions.
Takes opportunities to engage in
research and scientific endeavour
Identifies sources of drugs, the way
they are discovered, purified,

Activity types
Lectures, workshops

Assessment component

Lectures, workshops

Medicines information
assignment, History
presentation, Written exam,
Statistics quiz
Written exam, Statistics quiz

Lectures

Written exam

PHAR1811
Page 4 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

characterised and analysed, and their
physico-chemical properties
Provides pharmacy cognitive
services
Provides prescription medicines and
appropriate advice and counselling
Provides over the counter products
using endorsed professional protocol
Prepares simple extemporaneous
products to appropriate standards of
safety and quality
Provides patient education in relation
to medicines and therapeutic and
monitoring devices
Demonstrates an understanding of
management and organisational
principles and their application in
pharmacy settings
Demonstrates an understanding of
the issues associated with the
delivery of pharmaceutical services in
a range of rural and remote settings
Applies appropriate principles and
reasoning skills to address ethical
dilemmas in professional and
business practice
Demonstrates appropriate attitudes
and values in personal and
professional dealings and business
practice
Works effectively and cooperatively
as a member of a learning
group/team
Engages in continuous reflection and
takes responsibility for personal and
professional development
Demonstrates the ability to learn
independently and take responsibility
for own learning
Demonstrates understanding of laws
that govern the supply of medicines
and the practice of Pharmacy
Demonstrates an understanding of
the health care system in Australia
and the roles of the pharmacist within
it
Promotes "best practice" in the
pharmacotherapeutic management of
drug dependence

Lectures, workshops

Written exam

Lectures, fieldwork
Lectures, workshops

Community pharmacy
assignment, Written exam
Written exam

Practical

Practical attendance

Lectures, workshops

Medicines information
assignment, Written exam

Fieldwork,
workshops

Community pharmacy
assignment, Written exam

Lectures, workshops

Written exam

Lectures, workshops

Written exam

Fieldwork

Self-assessed, Workshop
attendance

Workshops,
assignments

Self-assessed through group

contract, Workshop
attendance
All assessments

Lectures,
workshops,
assignments
Workshops,
assignments

All assessments

Lectures, fieldwork

Written exam

Lectures, fieldwork,
workshops

Written exam

Lectures, workshops

Written exam

Learning Commitments
Credit points
Face-to-face

Total number of lecture hours

PHAR1811
Page 5 of 15

6
Approx 35

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Outside scheduled classes

Total number of tutorial/workshop hours

Total number of practical hours
Total number of practicum hours
Total number of groupwork hours
Total number of hours of private study/work
Total number of fieldwork hours

Commitment (hours)

Approx 30
Approx 4
n/a
Approx 12
37-76
4
122-161

The university allocates a number of credit points (usually 6) to each unit of study in your
degree program. It has been agreed that 1 credit point is approximately equal to a minimum
of 1.5 to 2 hours of student effort 1 (ie time spent engaged in activities related to that unit of
study) per week (ie a total of 117-156 hours for the semester). In PHAR1811 (6 Credit
Points), this time is split between (approximately) face-to-face time (69 hours), fieldwork time
(4 hours), group time (12 hours) and personal work and study time (37-76 hours). You should
regard the outside class and personal study time allocations as a reasonable indication of the
amount of time that is expected for satisfactory performance in the unit of study; however you
are encouraged to spend additional time in order to perform at a higher standard.

Creation, variation and deletion of award courses and units of study [Online]
http://www.usyd.edu.au/ab/Creation_Variation&Deletion.pdf (Accessed 09 January, 2006)

PHAR1811
Page 6 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Learner Preparation
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Assumed knowledge or
skills
Computer access
requirements
Preliminary reading
required

This unit is a foundation unit in the Bachelor of Pharmacy

and has no pre-requisites.
Nil
Good computer skills.
Written and verbal English suitable for tertiary study.
Computer and internet access is required. Facilities are
available on campus but home access is strongly
recommended.
As indicated in lecture and workshop schedule.

Assessment
Component
1 Group report community
pharmacy fieldwork report
2 Group presentation
history of pharmacy or
medicines

#/*

Due date

Date returned

Relative
Weighting

Week 11 Friday
20th May 5pm via
Blackboard

Week 13

15%

Week 11/12
fortnightly
workshop

Formative feedback
provided
immediately;
Weeks 12/13

10%

Week 7 weekly
Week 10
10%
workshop
4 Group assignment
Week 8 Friday 29th
Week 11 weekly
Medicines information
#
April 5pm via
15%
workshop
assignment
Blackboard
Weekly &
5 Class attendance
*
Fortnightly compulsory
End of semester
6 Written examination
*
50%
examination period
* denotes the assessment must be passed to satisfy the requirements of the course.
# denotes the group-work assessment.
3 Statistics quiz

PHAR1811
Page 7 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Academic Plan
Assessment
Name

Individua
l / Group

Assessment
Conditions

1 Group
report
community
pharmacy
fieldwork
report
2 Group
presentatio
n history
of
pharmacy
or
medicines

Group

3 Statistics
quiz
4 Group
assignment

Medicines
information
assignment
5 Class
attendance

6 Written
examinatio
n

Length

Mar
k

Weigh
t

Due Time

Due Date

Compulsor
y

8-12 pages

15

15%

5pm

Week 11
Friday 20th
May via
Blackboard

Group

Compulsor
y

Short oral
presentatio
n 10
minutes

10

10%

Set
worksho
p times
(variable
)

Week
11/12
fortnightly
workshop

Individua
l

Compulsor
y

30-45
minutes

10

10%

Week 7
weekly
workshop

Group

Compulsor
y

1000-1200
words

15

15%

Set
worksho
p times
(variable
)
5pm

Individua
l

Compulsor
y

N/A

N/A

N/A

Individua
l

Compulsor
y

60 minutes

50

50%

Set
worksho
p times
(variable
)

Week 8
Friday 29th
April via
Blackboard

Weekly &
Fortnightly
compulsory
End of
semester
examinatio
n period

Group Report Community Pharmacy

Description of task

Grading criteria

Following the fieldwork placement, and classes on pharmacy as a

business, your small group will be required to compile and submit a
report based on the observations you have made.
Please click here for a downloadable copy of the detailed
information and requirements for this assignment. If you do not
read this information, you will find it almost impossible to complete
the assignment satisfactorily.
Grading criteria are included in the downloadable document.

PHAR1811
Page 8 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Late submission
policy

All assignments are to be submitted via Blackboard. Permission for

late submission may be sought only from the course coordinator
and a maximum of three working days may be granted with
sufficient, documented reason. Late submission without permission
will be penalised at the rate of 10% per day late (ie 1.5 mark out of
15 will be deducted for every day late).

Group Presentation History of Pharmacy or Medicines Topic

Description of task

Grading criteria
Late submission
policy

For this assignment, your small group will be required to research

and present an oral presentation on a selected topic related to
history. The topics will be made available during the fortnightly
workshops in weeks 8 and 9, when you will have some time to
choose your topic and start planning your approach, and the
presentations will be made during the fortnightly workshops in
weeks 11 and 12.
The detailed information and requirements for this assignment will
be distributed in the fortnightly workshop in week 8 or 9. If you do
not read this information, you will find it almost impossible to
complete the assignment satisfactorily.
Grading criteria are included in the information which will be
distributed during the workshop.
If further presentation sessions remain, the presentation can be
made during a later session. If this is not possible, the presentation
must be made for assessment by tutors at a date to be set by the
tutors as soon as practicable after the final presentation session.
Additional work, which may include a different format from the
group presentation, and which may involve individual and/or group
work, may be required to complete this component successfully.

Statistics Quiz
Description of task
Grading criteria

Additional
assessment

A multiple choice question quiz of 30-45 minutes duration will be

held during the weekly workshop in week 7.
Each question is worth a specified number of marks, which are
indicated in the question paper. Students will receive an overall
mark for this quiz which will contribute to the final mark for this unit.
If a student is granted special consideration for this quiz, an
additional quiz paper will be offered according to the special
consideration policy (see the link to the Special Consideration
Policy in this document). Please ensure that you are familiar with
the requirements of this policy as a lack of knowledge of the
procedures will not be considered as grounds for appeal.

PHAR1811
Page 9 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Medicines Information Assignment

Description of task

Grading criteria
Late submission
policy

Your group will be allocated a specific pharmaceutical product, by

brand name, and you are to produce a 1000 to 1200 word report
which addresses the issues listed below. You are to use a small
range of references which are described in the assignment outline.
Your report must be appropriately referenced (the reference list
does not count in the word limit).
Your group will be required to select a pharmaceutical product in
week 4 from a set list. Each group will be required to study a
different product. For your allocated pharmaceutical product, your
group needs to write and produce a report in which you
o describe the name of the product, the active ingredient (if
you can find a chemical structure include this as well), and
the formulation type (eg is it available in tablets, liquid,
injection etc)
o briefly outline the disease or condition in which this product
is used and the place of this product in the overall therapy
(Hint - is it first, second or third line treatment it may be
useful to use the Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG see
Pharmacy databases on the library website).
o discuss the most common side effects and the most serious
side effects that a patient taking this product might
experience and how they should respond if they do
experience these side effects
o outline the major counselling points which a pharmacist
should explain to the patient when receiving this product for
the first time
o find one clinically significant interaction between your drug
and another drug and briefly outline what happens in this
interaction and how this interaction should be managed (Hint
use a specialised drug interaction resource such as
Stockleys Drug Interactions, available via Medicines
Complete)
o briefly discuss something you find interesting about this
product
Please click here for a downloadable copy of the detailed
information and requirements for this assignment. If you do not read
this information, you will find it almost impossible to complete the
assignment satisfactorily.
Detailed grading criteria are available in conjunction with the
distribution of the details of the assignment.
All assignments are to be submitted via Blackboard no later than
5pm on Friday 29th April. Permission for late submission may be
sought only from the course coordinator and a maximum of three
working days may be granted with sufficient, documented reason.
Late submission without permission will be penalised at the rate of
10% per day late (ie 1.5 mark out of 15 will be deducted for every
day late).

PHAR1811
Page 10 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Class Attendance
Description of task

The majority of the learning in this unit will occur in the workshops.
Attendance at workshops is therefore compulsory, and records will
be kept. Students are advised that it is a requirement of the
BPharm/MPharm degree that they participate appropriately, in all
classroom and examination tasks, including role plays and group
work involving all genders. The Faculty is unable to exempt
students from these tasks.

Grading criteria

Absence from more than two workshops without adequate medical

documentation is grounds for failure in this unit. Prior
arrangements for alternate attendance may be made when a
student is aware of unavoidable absence from a workshop. In this
situation, the student must email the coordinator with the request
for alternative attendance, and if permission is granted, must print
the email sent by the coordinator and present it to the tutor at the
alternative workshop. Students who are prevented from attendance
at any workshop for documented illness or misadventure should
complete a Special Consideration application as per the policy (see
the link provided in this document). Depending on the activities
which were missed, additional work may be assigned in order to
meet the course requirements. Absence from more than two
workshops without the granting of special consideration constitutes
grounds for failure in the unit. Absence from more than four
workshops, whether special consideration has been granted or not,
may also be grounds for failure in the unit.
Please also read the Attendance Policy on the Lectures and
Tutorials page of this site.

Written Examination
Description of task
Grading criteria

Additional
assessment

Examination paper of 60 minutes duration, covering all course

content with the exception of statistics.
Each question is worth a specified number of marks, which is
indicated in the question paper. Students will receive an overall
mark for this examination paper which will contribute to the final
mark for this unit. In order to complete the requirements for this
unit, it is compulsory to achieve a satisfactory mark in the
examination. This mark is a minimum of 50%. Students who
receive less than 50% in the examination will receive a Fail grade
for the unit, irrespective of performance in other assessments in
the unit.
If a student is granted special consideration for this examination
paper, an additional paper will be offered according to the special
consideration policy (see the Special Consideration link in this
document). Please ensure that you are familiar with the
requirements of this policy as a lack of knowledge of the
procedures will not be considered as grounds for appeal.

PHAR1811
Page 11 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Feedback Schedule
Task / Component
Group report community
pharmacy fieldwork report
Group presentation
history of pharmacy or
medicines topic
Statistics quiz
Medicines information
assignment

Written examination

Type of Feedback
Written feedback (marksheet) and mark;
Turnitin; assignment returned; marks
published on MyGrades section of USyd
eLearning
Formative feedback from tutor and peers
Mark published in MyGrades section of
USyd eLearning
Written feedback (marksheet) and mark;
Turnitin; assignment returned; marks
published on MyGrades section of USyd
eLearning
Mark published on MyUni; formative
feedback related to exam performance on
Examination Review Day

Timeframe
Three weeks

Immediate
Three weeks

Three weeks
Marks released
after exams;
date of Review
Day tba
second
semester

Academic Honesty
The University takes a serious attitude towards academic honesty. You are strongly advised
to read the Academic Honesty in Coursework Policy:
http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2012/254&RendNum=0. If you
are uncertain about what is acceptable, please seek advice from the course coordinator.
The University uses text matching software to identify plagiarism in written submitted work.

Special Consideration
If you have a serious illness, injury or circumstances arise that affect your ability to
complete or submit an assessment, you may have grounds to apply for special
consideration. For more information see: http://sydney.edu.au/study/academicsupport/learning-support/staying-on-track.html

Attendance and Participation

In accordance with the Faculty Local Provisions on Attendance, students are expected to
attend at least 85% of the compulsory sessions in any Unit of Study. In this Unit of Study,
PHAR1811 Foundations of Pharmacy, this means that you must attend 15 out of 17
workshops/practicals to complete this Unit of Study satisfactorily.
Prior arrangements for alternate attendance may be made when a student is aware of
unavoidable absence from a workshop. In this situation, the student must email the
coordinator with the request for alternative attendance, and if permission is granted, must
print the email sent by the coordinator and present it to the tutor at the alternative workshop.
Students who are prevented from attendance at any workshop for documented illness or
misadventure should complete a Special Consideration application (see Special
Consideration section of this document for a link to the policy). Depending on the activities
which were missed, additional work may be assigned in order to meet the course
requirements. Absence from more than two workshops without the granting of special
consideration constitutes grounds for failure in the unit. Such arrangements must be made
PHAR1811
Page 12 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

upon application to the coordinator. Absence from more than four workshops, whether
special consideration has been granted or not, may also be grounds for failure in the unit.
Students are expected to attend for the entire scheduled time of their workshop/practical or
until they have finished the assigned activities. Students who are late by more than 15
minutes without adequate, documented reason, will be regarded as absent from the
workshop. Students who leave before the workshop has been completed, unless all
assigned work has been completed to the satisfaction of the tutor, will be regarded as
absent from the workshop.

PHAR1811
Page 13 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Brief description of the content of each section or topic

Topic
Description
The research
process
Orientation to the
library
Sources and quality
of evidence
Data analysis
Critical thinking
Writing and
referencing
Reflection

This topic focuses on the scientific method as a paradigm and

introduces the concept of the evidence basis for decision making in
clinical situations.
This topic introduces students to the facilities and services
provided by the University of Sydney Library, and is presented by
the Pharmacy Liaison Librarian.
This topic explores the range of sources of evidence about
information in general and medical and medicinal information in
particular, and assists students to develop skills in discriminating
between reliable and unreliable sources.
This topic covers types of data and variables, and focuses on
statistical summaries and descriptions of simple data sets as
encountered in scientific and medical research.
This topic introduces the concept of critical thinking and provides
students with the opportunity to develop skills in thinking critically
about published material.
This topic covers the requirements for academic writing at
university level and in particular focuses on the development of
skills in referencing as a means of avoiding unintentional
plagiarism. The significance of plagiarism, whether intentional or
accidental, is also highlighted.
This topic focuses on the characteristics of reflective writing in
contrast to descriptive writing, and provides students with the
opportunity to practice skills in writing reflectively.

History of medicine,
This topic traces a number of major historical developments as
medicines and
they impact on the current professional practice of pharmacists.
pharmacy
The profession of
pharmacy
The Australian
health care system
Roles of
pharmacists
Quality use of
medicines
Dispensing

This topic provides an overview of the current breadth of the

profession of pharmacy as it is practised in Australia, and focuses
on dimensions such as professionalism, ethics, and pharmacy as a
business.
This topic covers in broad terms the structure and funding of the
health care system in Australia, and the place of pharmacy and
pharmaceuticals in the overall framework.
Following on from consideration of the Australian health care
system, this topic focuses on the specific but varied roles of
pharmacists, and on the services which are provided by
pharmacists within the system.
This topic provides a very brief introduction to the concept of
quality use of medicines, potential for misuse of medicinal
substances and looks at some ways in which pharmacists can play
a role in minimising the harm which results from such misuse.
Students will spend four hours in the Dispensing Laboratory and
will dispense prescriptions for a pseudo patient as well as making
a simple pharmaceutical product.

PHAR1811
Page 14 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney

Unit of Study Outline

Evaluation of this Unit of Study

This unit was offered for the first time in the 2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy curriculum
and has been well received by students. The unit is coordinated with the second
semester unit PHAR1821 Social Pharmacy in a streamlined manner: in PHAR1811
the focus is more specifically on the profession of Pharmacy, while the place of
pharmacy in the overall health care system is a focus of PHAR1821.
In 2013, one of two rural pharmacy workshops has been replaced by a workshop
designed to assist students in understanding the nature and expectations of their
examination, and the community pharmacy assignment will be reviewed by
Turnitin.
In 2015, the time allocated for dispensing lab experience has been increased from
1 hour to 3 hours, based on student feedback.
In 2015, the medicines information assignment will be reviewed by Turnitin.

Texts and References

Essential texts

None

Recommended texts

None

References

Will be given as needed

Web sites

As indicated in lecture notes and other course documents

Relevant university
policies

See Your Obligations page

Online Reference Shelf

University of Sydney
Library

Pharmacy Subject Guide

References

None

PHAR1811
Page 15 of 15

Foundations of Pharmacy
2016 Faculty of Pharmacy University of Sydney