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The Research Department of Practice and Policy (RDPP) aims to improve health and wellbeing through teaching, research and consultancy, informing the best use of medicines and pharmacy.
We are a diverse group of pharmacists, psychologists, pharmacoepidemiologists, statisticians and social science researchers who have a wide network of associations with other academic disciplines.
Teaching
Our teaching-focused academics are central to curriculum development, teaching and assessment across all years of the hugely successful MPharm degree, accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council. We also have a wide portfolio of professional postgraduate and post-registration pharmacy training programmes, the largest across Europe.
Our professional offerings provide continued training opportunities for registered practitioners to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice (post-registration Foundation Training) or to progress to an MSc in Advanced Pharmacy Practice. Additionally, we offer access to a highly rated training programme to become a registered Independent Prescriber through our Clinically Enhanced Pharmacist Independent Prescribing course.
All our teaching staff are registered pharmacists and many work in patient-facing environments; this valuable contribution to our education delivery ensures that our training and development programmes are future-focused and innovative. In addition, we maintain and support a wide scope of joint and honorary appointments of key leaders and innovators from the NHS and wider pharmacy-related healthcare delivery organisations and institutions.
As a global university, we have a large cohort of overseas pharmacists studying for the unique clinical leadership programme, the MSc in Clinical Pharmacy International Practice and Policy. Finally, we consistently support and provide for a large cohort of doctoral students studying for MPhil and PhD training, together with many postdoctoral fellows.
Our current undergraduate initial education and training programme has been enhanced with the addition of an innovative, integrated, five-year MPharm degree leading to direct registration. Outside the UK we are involved in leading the development of the pharmacy practice course and supporting staff at the New Giza University, Cairo.
Research
Our global research programme focuses on medication safety and optimisation of medicines use, pharmaceutical health services, professional healthcare education and workforce. It includes the research on medication errors in the hospital setting, medication effectiveness and safety in the primary care setting, behavioural factors in explaining variation in response to treatment.
There are two research clusters within the department. Medicines Use and Optimisation, the research involves using a range of tools and models for assessing patient perspectives of illness and treatment (e.g. the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire [BMQ] and the Medication Adherence Report Scale [MARS]) and frameworks (e.g. the Necessity-Concerns Framework). This work translates into a portfolio of theory-based pragmatic interventions to help patients get the best from treatments by supporting optimal adherence and self-management. A successful consultancy spin-out company, Spoonful of Sugar, has translated the research into several medical products and tools.
Medicines Use and Optimisation
Pharmacoepidemiology and Medication Safety, the research investigates medication effectiveness and safety in real-world population using healthcare databases (also known as big data) from the UK and other countries and medication errors using data collected from hospitals. The research aims to improve safety and benefit outcomes in the use of medicines. Our work informs and influences policies to improve professional practice and promotes public health. Several research projects have led to changes in clinical practice, guidelines, and policies locally, nationally and internationally.
Pharmacoepidemiology and Medication Safety
In recognition of the high-quality research conducted by the academics, three Impact Case studies were submitted for the REF 2021 from the department. Our research impact extends to high volumes of output in educational and workforce development activity. This active research in pharmacy education, and critically in workforce development, not only supports our teaching and learning innovations but also provides national and international impact for professional development.
The research department contributes significantly to global leadership through our partnership with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP https://www.fip.org) and with hosting the UCL-FIP UNESCO UNITWIN Network. Our work in global workforce development across many WHO Regions and countries, and our significant contributions to progressing the FIP Global Development Goals, has cemented our position as a global leader in this area of international pharmacy.
Our department is split into two sites, at Brunswick Square and at BMA House
Department of Practice and Policy