COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course is designed to prepare students for independent, theory-based research leading to new knowledge and understanding of drug use, patient and provider communication and behaviors, health outcomes. The goals of this course is to introduce students to psychosocial and behavioral aspects of pharmacy practice and patient care, including (1) the pharmacist’s role in patient care and public health; (2) patient perspective and factors related to health and medication use; (3) patient-pharmacist interaction and communication; (4) principles of personnel management in pharmacy practice; and (5) Pharmacoeconomics. This course also presents basic knowledge related to start a community pharmacy.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

CLO: 1. To explain the basic knowledge related to public health, community pharmacy, Pharmacoeconomics, role of pharmacist as educator and alternative therapy.
CLO: 2. To illustrate principles and steps for patients counselling, heath system research and pharmacoeconomic models.
CLO: 3. To construct a community pharmacy/ pharmacy layout by keeping in mind the standards.

COURSE CONTENTS

  1. DEFINITIONS AND BACKGROUND
  2. PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY PHARMACY

      3. Epidemiology & its Control, Epidemiological methodology with a focus on specific disease states, Pharmacoepidemiology (including Drug Utilization Review). Preventive Health (EPI & CDC), Family Planning and Health Policy.

  3. MEDICAL COMPLICATION OF DRUG TAKING
    • General and Socio-economic aspects.
  4. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELLING
  5. CONTROL OF DRUG ABUSE AND MISUSE
  6. ROLE OF PHARMACIST
    • As Public Health Educator in the Community for Drug Monitoring and Drug Information.
  7. HEALTH SYSTEM RESEARCH

    • Knowledge skills of research methods, epidemiologic study design, experimental study design, Pre- and post-marketing surveys. Application of various statistical procedures in Pharmacy and Medical Research, causality assessment as well as the sensitivity and specificity tests in pharmacy practice.

  8. PHARMACOECONOMICS
    • Pharmacoeconomic modeling & interpretation.
  9. ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

    • Background, philosophy and use of complementary and alternative therapies including herbal medicines, homoeopathy, acupuncture, acupressure, Bach Flower remedies, aromatherapy and reflexology.

  10. PHARMACY LAYOUT DESIGN

    • Objectives of Layout Design, Types of Community Pharmacies (Pharmaceutical Centre, Prescription-oriented Pharmacies, Traditional Pharmacies and The Super Drug Store), Consumer goods and purchases, Classes of Layout designs, Principles and characteristics of Layout Design and Traffic Flow analysis.