Masters Degrees (Pharmacoeconomics)

Programme description
Over the last 30 years healthcare research and drug development have been transformed from peripheral activities carried out on an ad hoc basis to a core activities that requires trained, professional, staff. We have developed a modular postgraduate programme in healthcare research, designed to give you the necessary academic background and specialist skills to carry out healthcare research in a contract research organisation, pharmaceutical industry or health service environment.

If you are a graduate, nurse, medical doctor or other health professional working in contract research organisations, the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare, this programme has been designed for you.

Programme outline
This postgraduate programme share a common spine with our Clinical Drug Development programme, which also covers the key areas of expertise needed for a successful clinical research programme. The Healthcare Research Methods programme places an emphasis on health management.

The modular nature of the programme is designed to fit in with full-time employment. The taught elements of the modules are delivered in three-day blocks every six weeks.

Core modules

Clinical Study Design
Practical Aspects of Clinical Research and Early Drug Development
Ethics and Regulation
Data Management and Statistics
Specific Topics in Clinical Trial Design
Elective Dissertation
Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomics
Marketing Healthcare
Research Project/Dissertation
Health and the Human Body
Healthcare Organisation and Decision-Making
Module options include:

Drug Discovery and Preclinical Research and Development
Toxicology

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This M.Sc. course is administered by the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, in the Trinity Centre of Health Sciences, St James's Hospital, Dublin. It has been developed to provide medical and science graduates with specialist knowledge and skills in the area of clinical pharmacology and pharmaceutical medicine. In-take is on an annual basis. Components of the course include principles of:

Pharmacology and biostatistics
New drug development and the regulatory environment
Pharmacoeconomics and rational use of drugs
Pharmacovigilance and drug information

The course involves completion of taught modules and the additional undertaking of a research project. The modules consist of formal teaching and personal assignments and are run over five terms on a part-time basis (approximately two modules per term). Some of the modules are undertaken by way of distance learning. In addition, the students are assigned a research project (including field work), to be submitted as a dissertation for the degree of M.Sc. only.

The syllabus is compliant with PharmaTrain, an EU funded Innovative Medicines Initiative (http://www.pharmatrain.eu).

Students are assessed by way of continuous assessment and are required to pass written and oral examinations at the end of their course. In addition, they are required to submit a written dissertation on their research project (with the possibility of an oral examination) by the end of the second year of the course.

Prospective students for this course must hold a primary degree in either medicine or another relevant health or science subject. Candidates should have a minimum of two years' practical experience in their area of qualification/pharmaceutical industry. The course is run in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8.

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Programme description
Over the last 30 years healthcare research and drug development have been transformed from peripheral activities carried out on an ad hoc basis to become core activities that require trained, professional, staff.

We have developed a modular postgraduate programme in clinical drug development designed to give you the necessary academic background and specialist skills needed to carry out clinical drug development in a contract research organisation , pharmaceutical industry or health service environment.

If you are a nurse, medical doctors or other health professionals working in contract research organisations, the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare, this programme has been designed for you.

Programme outline
This postgraduate programmes shares a common spine with our Healthcare Research Methods programme, which covers the key areas of expertise needed for a successful clinical research programme.If you choose the Clinical Drug Development programme, your initial modules will concentrate on early drug development.

The modular nature of the programmes is designed to fit in with full-time employment. The taught elements of the modules are delivered in three-day blocks every six weeks.

Core modules:

Clinical Study Design
Practical Aspects of Clinical Research and Early Drug Development
Ethics and Regulation
Data Management and Statistics
Specific Topics in Clinical Trial Design
Elective Dissertation
Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomics
Marketing Healthcare
Research Project / Dissertation
Drug Discovery and Pre-clinical Research and Development
Toxicology
Module options include:

Health and the Human Body
Healthcare Organisation and Decision Making

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This Masters in Medicine course is offered to medical graduates in training who wish to develop their research skills, broaden their research interests, and develop advanced knowledge in selected areas of clinical and scientific practice. The course syllabus and curriculum have been developed following consultation with medical trainees in Ireland in order to ensure that the course fulfills their needs in terms of higher medical training at national and international level. The aim of the course is to provide advanced training in key domains of excellence relevant to modern medical practice for all students while also providing specialist knowledge relevant to their individual chosen career pathways.

Students will be required to complete twelve taught modules (5 ECTS each) as follows:

Six core modules (in year 1):

Professional and Ethical Practice of Medicine,
Research Skills I,
Research Skills II,
Health Services Management,
Health Informatics,
Patient Safety for Clinical Specialists.

Six optional modules (year 2) from either Molecular and Translational Medicine (strand A):

Cellular Biology and Cell signalling Mechanisms,
Introduction to Genetics and Molecular Biology,
Molecular oncology,
Molecular Mechanisms of Human disease I and II, and
laboratory skills for clinical specialists

or Population Health and Health Implementation (Strand B):

Public Health for Clinical Specialists,
Global Health for Clinical Specialists,
Rehabilitation Medicine for Clinical Specialists,
Teaching and Learning for Clinical Specialists,
Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmacoepidemiology, and Drug Safety 56

Students will also be required to submit a dissertation (30 ECTS) based on an original research/ laboratory-based project at the end of the second year.

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The M.Sc. in Hospital Pharmacy consists of a practice-based teaching programme complemented by lectures, tutorials and workshops. The course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake all aspects of hospital pharmacy. Subjects covered include medical and surgical therapeutics, medicines information, pharmacoeconomics, purchasing skills, good manufacturing practice and aseptics, immunology and biotechnology. Management issues as they relate to hospital pharmacy and the broader context of healthcare systems are also addressed. Coursework is underpinned by a comprehensive practice-based element where students rotate through a variety of specialist areas to ensure that broad, practical experience is obtained in such areas as medicines information, dispensary, aseptic compounding and clinical specialities. Assessment is on a continual basis through formal examinations, written assignments, oral presentations and competency-based assessments. Students are required to undertake a research project and must demonstrate research competency. Research and methodological skills are addressed in a dedicated module that also covers an introduction to statistical evaluation. This is a two-year, part-time course with lectures and tutorials taking place on one half day per week in central locations. Courses are conducted on a biennial basis.

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-A work based practical programme of study which builds on and allows application of knowledge gleaned during the Certificate in Psychiatric Therapeutics
-The qualification is often a requirement for specialist mental health pharmacist posts in the NHS
-Written, taught and assessed by specialist mental health pharmacists

Course outline

Practice-based clinical modules:
-Introduction to Clinical Practice
-Clinical Interventions
-Formulary Development, Clinical Audit and Communication

Compulsory knowledge based components:
-Psychological Therapies
-Substance Misuse
-Evidence Based Medicine and Information Technology
-Pharmacoeconomics

Plus a choice of two from the following four:
-Research Methods
-Learning Disabilities
-Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
-Epilepsy

Learning, teaching & assessment

The range of learning methods will be used, including distance learning materials, directed reading, self assessed exercises, additional reading and participation in a multi disciplinary forum (MDT).

Assessment is by assignments, clinical proformas, oral case presentations and a final examination.

Career prospects

This qualification is often a requirement for specialist clinical mental health posts in the NHS.

“Specialist status” as deemed by Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy is also increasingly expected for higher level clinical posts in the NHS. The Diploma forms part of the pathway for this accreditation.

Personal development

The following skills will be developed:
-Independent study
-Good time management
-Effective written communication
-Effective oral communication
-Effective information retrieval, organisation and presentation

Professional accreditation

The programme is supported by the College of Mental Health Pharmacists (CMHP).

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