Prescribing Studies – (M.Sc.)

In the fast-changing world of therapeutics, prescribing and health care provision, prescribers, or those providing prescribing advice, may feel under-equipped to meet Department of Health demands and the challenges that have emerged from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), National Service Frameworks (NSFs), Clinical Governance frameworks, and the Crown Report. The final Crown Report proposed a new framework for the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines in which new groups of professionals such as nurses and pharmacists, will be able to prescribe medicines. The Government’s programme for Pharmacy, Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths – delivering the future along with the new Pharmacy Contract, have paved the way for pharmacists to broaden their role and contribution within primary health care.

Choice and flexibility are key features of the Prescribing Studies programme. Healthcare professionals may choose different pathways to reach the awards of Certificate, Diploma and Masters to meet their own specific professional development needs and to advance their professional practice e.g. by undertaking the Independent Prescribing Preparatory Course for Pharmacists. Flexibility is also provided by our CPD Plus+ and CPD Plus+ Open Learn modules which are available as 10, 15 and 30 credit modules.

If you need any further information, please visit our website or contact the Programme Administrator.

The overall aim of the Prescribing Studies programme is to offer the opportunity for prescribers (medical and non-medical) and those providing prescribing advice to enhance their knowledge base, skills and understanding of practical therapeutics and prescribing within the context of the larger health care team. Learning outcomes for individual courses are specified separately. The overall programme aims to enable participants to achieve the following learning outcomes:

* Describe and appraise the practical considerations that are relevant to the prescriber in primary care
* Apply clinical and behavioural knowledge and skills to the prescribing process
* Describe the principles underlying rational prescribing
* Apply the principles underlying rational prescribing to specific patient groups
* Describe the therapy of common medical conditions
* Apply evidence-based prescribing to the treatment of common medical conditions

In addition, you will develop valuable practical skills including written and oral communication, and the ability to design audit projects, collect, analyse and interpret data. The programme will also encourage you to develop the self-discipline of private study, self-directed learning and critical reflection through the use of a reflective portfolio that you can continue beyond your formal study period with Keele in your own Continuing Professional Development.