Dissertation abstracts and project descriptions 2024

Abstract

This year’s Pharmacy Symposium serves as a notable demonstration of the advancement in a fundamental component of tertiary education, specifically the research endeavours that underpin the academic and administrative principles of the Department of Pharmacy. A review of the topics covered in the presentations reveals the extensive breadth and depth of student involvement in productive investigations aligned with the progression of pharmaceutical practice. These topics encompass a spectrum ranging from the evaluation of service quality to the regulatory aspects of pharmacy prescribing and the extension of community pharmacy services. The explored concepts contribute to the nurturing of future pharmaceutical professionals. Pharmacy students are guided to expand their proficiency not only to navigate through an environment characterized by demanding service requisites but also to excel in delivering a patient-centric approach resilient to external disruptions. As demonstrated by their presentations, which delve into areas such as certification and competence frameworks, integrated care, digital technology, disease management, and patient education, students exhibit exemplary performance. The educational framework adopted by the Department of Pharmacy offers a platform for the cultivation of leadership within the healthcare domain, fostering the establishment of an optimal health management system. Another cornerstone of the department’s strategy involves providing students with opportunities to oversee their research projects, thereby fostering communication skills and fostering a mindset conducive to innovation. Such innovative initiatives are evident in the exposure to contemporary evolving concepts such as signal management, process optimization, sustainable practices, risk assessment, nanotechnology, and trend analysis. The paradigm shift towards increasingly smart and interconnected medical devices, coupled with the imperative to address the visibility of rare diseases within the healthcare landscape, underscores the importance of leveraging real-world data for the advancement of pharmaceuticals. Medication safety remains paramount across all pharmaceutical processes, as reflected in numerous student projects focusing on this foundational aspect of pharmaceutical science. Education emerges as a cornerstone of patient safety, as evidenced by research projects exploring educational interventions aimed at informing the general public about health medication risks, pharmacists’ interventions regarding high risk medications, patients’ involvement in pharmaceutical care plans, and pharmacist-led educational initiatives addressing inflammatory bowel disease. [excerpt]