96011 Primary Health Care
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): (96006 Integrated Therapeutics 1 AND 96005 Professional Services 2 AND 96007 Drug Disposition AND (96008 Evidence-based Practice OR 96858 Evidence-based Primary Health Care) AND 96024 Clinical Practice 2)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Pharmacists are said to be the first point of contact with consumers for their health care and wellness needs. The results of these consultations could be referral to medical practitioners and other care providers, the supply of a non-prescription medication and/or advice. This subject provides students with knowledge and skills to make appropriate clinical decisions to assist the consumer self manage or to seek relevant health advice. Disease, symptom, non-prescription medication, non-pharmacological management, screening and monitoring are covered. Prevention, health promotion and wellness theory and practice is reviewed and applied to the role of pharmacy. The areas of smoking cessation, weight management and lifestyle changes are used as examples.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 0023. | Recognise own area of expertise and know when to refer |
|---|---|
| 0053. | Identify the role of the pharmacist in health promotion and in promoting public health |
| 0054. | Define health promotion and discuss theoretical frameworks for the design of health promotion activities |
| 0056. | Advise consumers about behaviours that can promote health and wellness, and prevent disease |
| 0057. | Demonstrate an understanding of the challenges involved in balancing the needs of the individual and those of the wider community |
| 0058. | Describe important Australian health promotion programs and identify how pharmacy can contribute to these |
| 0059. | Identify and evaluate screening programs that could be provided by pharmacy |
| 0060. | Evaluate the business impact of implementing health promotional activities in the pharmacy |
| 0061. | Identify at-risk groups that may benefit from health promotion or disease prevention programs |
| 0062. | Identify other organisations and health care professionals with whom pharmacy can collaborate in health promotion and disease prevention |
| 0063. | Develop population-specific, evidence-based public health programs based upon analysis of epidemiologic and pharmacoeconomic data |
| 0092. | Describe the presentation of illness and disease in individuals and populations |
| 0093. | Describe the specific clinical presentation of illness and diseases and the criteria for differential diagnosis |
| 0094. | Identify risk factors for the development of specific illnesses and diseases, incorporating risk assessment and screening |
| 0095. | Describe acute and chronic clinical presentations of disease |
| 0102. | Employ an evidence-based approach to patient care |
| 0106. | Apply a systematic process of inquiry to understand the patient's health problem(s) |
| 0111. | Apply knowledge of non-pharmacological therapy options in patient disease management |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
The learning outcomes for this subject are as follows:
- Reflect on knowledge, skills and attributes required for the evaluation and integration of emerging evidence into practice, promoting the growth of personal and professional learning and the education of others (01.02)
- Analyse and synthesise knowledge of health science concepts and theory, and apply skills of scientific research and clinical reasoning to support decision-making in pharmacy practice. (01.03)
- Demonstrate safe and competent operational, interpersonal and clinical skills for the benefit and care of patients and the wider community. (02.01)
- Engage in team undertakings adopting a range of roles in diverse teams, building cohesion and maximising team contributions. (02.04)
- Capably communicate to patients, their families, carers and members of the healthcare team; contribute to wider health education and promotion, choosing and adapting communication modes to address cultural and linguistic diversity. (02.06)
- Integrate into daily practice knowledge of health systems and concerns in national and global communities, with awareness of the social and cultural contexts of health to meet the diverse needs of individuals and communities. (03.07)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
- Lifelong learning
- Professional capacity
- Global citizenship
Teaching and learning strategies
This Subject takes a patient- and case-focused approach. Interactive workshops are supported by lectures dealing with the theoretical underpinnings of primary health care. Workshops allow students to develop and practice their skills in assisting patients with minor health problems and requesting non-prescription medicines. Students work in small groups as well as practicing their individual counselling skills in the mock pharmacy. Students will also hone their skills in developing a primary health care service for implementation into a community pharmacy through the assignment.
Strategy 1
Student preparation for learning:
Preparation for learning provides students with the theoretical underpinnings of primary health care topics.
Lectures (online and face-to-face), textbook and online resources are all crucial to a full understanding of the subject content. Students attend or view lectures, read specific sections in textbook and use online resources to prepare for their participation in activities including weekly quizzes and collaborative discussion. These regular quizzes will ensure that students keep up to date throughout the semester.
Strategy 2
Collaborative and interactive learning in workshops:
Workshops provide students with an opportunity to discuss and clarify concepts from the lectures, thus providing the students the opportunity for deeper understanding. Workshops allow students to develop and practice their skills in assisting patients with minor health problems and requesting non-prescription medicines.
Each week students will engage in small group discussion as well as practicing their individual counselling skills via scenario role plays in the mock pharmacy. The role play cases simulate real life scenarios which enable students to develop critical thinking skills to make clinical decisions, and translate medical information to patient using effective communication and counselling skills.
Hands-on workshops on specific topics are designed to allow students to have firsthand experience with medical equipment and non-prescription medications. Partnership with other health professionals such as physiotherapist, dietitian, wound care specialist and breastfeeding specialist in the workshops promotes interdisciplinary collaboration.
Strategy 3
Early and consistent feedback:
Structured formative feedback is provided individually and following the weekly quizzes and scenario role plays. Role plays will be recorded and students will reflect on their own performance as well as provide a structured critique for their colleagues. The collaborative learning approach utilised in the class will enable ongoing feedback to be provided as areas of learning need are identified.
Content (topics)
Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care professionals, and often the first port of call for patient seeking advice about minor self-limiting illnesses. They must be able to differentiate between those conditions that can be treated in the pharmacy and those that should be referred on to the doctor. This subject concentrates on the development of the knowledge and skills that a pharmacist requires to triage and manage patients with minor illnesses. Extension of clinical reasoning and communication skills will be an important focus of this subject.
Topics include:
- respiratory
- gastroenterology
- dermatology
- eye, ear and oral health
- pain
- insomnia
- women’s health
- paediatrics
- smoking cessation
- wound care
- weight management
- complementary medicines
- preventative health
- pharmacy professional services.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Weekly Quizzes
| Intent: | The quizzes will assist students to consolidate their knowledge from the week’s lecture and self-preparatory material for the topic focus. Students will gain immediate feedback on their responses to ensure a shared understanding before moving on to the practical application of the knowledge in the workshops. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 0023, 0056, 0092, 0093, 0094, 0095, 0102 and 0111 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 01.02, 01.03 and 02.01 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 25% |
Assessment task 2: Group Professional Pharmacy Service Presentation
| Intent: | The assignment will allow students to spend time investigating important aspects of a primary health care service and to advance their skills in the development and implementation of pharmacy services. This assignment is a group project to enable in-depth exploration of such a service. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 0053, 0054, 0056, 0057, 0058, 0059, 0060, 0061, 0062, 0063, 0094, 0102 and 0111 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 01.03, 02.01, 02.04, 02.06 and 03.07 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Criteria: | Assignment marking criteria are available under the Assignment tab in Canvas. |
Assessment task 3: Final Exam (must-pass)
| Intent: | The final exam allows students to demonstrate on an individual level that they have acquired the skills and knowledge required to assist patients with minor illnesses. The OSCE is an authentic assessment in that it simulates the interaction between pharmacist and patient in real life pharmacy practice. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 0023, 0056, 0092, 0093, 0094, 0095, 0102, 0106 and 0111 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 01.03, 02.01, 02.06 and 03.07 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Criteria: | Marking criteria are available under the Assignment tab in Canvas. Details of the exam conditions will be provided via your Canvas site. |
Minimum requirements
Students are required to attend a minimum of 85% of compulsory classes.
To pass this Subject students must achieve a minimum grade of 50%.
Note: there is a must-pass assessment in this Subject. Please check assessment descriptions for details.
Required texts
See weekly information on 96011 subject Canvas site.
Procedures for assessment of Coursework Subjects
Graduate School of Health Policy, Guidelines and Procedures (login required)
Recommended texts
Community Pharmacy: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. Rutter P, Newby D. 4th edition, 2019
Self Care Fact Cards. Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.
Australian Medicines Handbook, 2024.