Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• discuss and evaluate the risks, benefits, and rationale of treatment options, making decisions in partnership with patients
• write clear and legible prescriptions in plain language, and include specific indications for the anticipated duration of therapy
• show awareness of the application process to regulatory authorities for restricted medications
• describe how the medication should and should not be administered, including any important relationships to food, time of day, and other medicines being taken
• explain the relevant steps involved in subsequent medication monitoring, along with management when patients are unwell, hospitalised, or before surgery
• ensure patients’ understanding by repeating back pertinent information, such as when to return for monitoring and whether therapy continues after this single prescription
• identify patients’ concerns and expectations, and explain how medicines might affect their everyday lives

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• discuss and explain the rationale for treatment options with patients
• write clearly legible scripts or charts using generic names of the required medication in full, including mg / kg / dose information and all legally required information
• seek further advice from experienced clinicians or pharmacists when appropriate
• explain the benefits and burdens of therapies, considering patients’ individual circumstances

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• review medicines regularly to improve adherence and monitor treatment effectiveness, possible side effects, and drug interactions, ceasing unnecessary medicines
• use electronic prescribing tools where available, and access electronic drug references to prevent errors caused by drug interactions and poor handwriting
• prescribe new medicines only when they have been demonstrated to be safer or more effective at improving patient-oriented outcomes than existing medicines
• participate in clinical audits to improve prescribing behaviour, including an approach to polypharmacy and prescribing cascade
• report suspected adverse events to the Advisory Committee on Medicines, and record it in patients’ medical records

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• check the dose before prescribing
• monitor side effects of medicines prescribed
• identify medication errors and institute appropriate measures
• use electronic prescribing systems safely
• rationalise medicines to avoid polypharmacy

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• use continuously updated software for computers and electronic prescribing programs
• ensure patients understand management plans, including adherence issues
• use appropriate guidelines and evidence-based medicine resources to maintain a working knowledge of current medicines, keeping up to date on new medicines
• provide patients with written or electronic resources to support education on their condition
• include education in correspondence to the primary care physician to enable improved chronic care in the community

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• undertake continuing professional development to maintain currency with prescribing guidelines
• reflect on prescribing, and seek feedback from a supervisor

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• appraise research material critically to ensure any new medicine improves patient-oriented outcomes more than older medicines, and not just more than placebo
• use sources of independent information about medicines that provide accurate summaries of the available evidence on new medicines

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• make therapeutic decisions according to the best evidence
• recognise where evidence is limited, compromised, or subject to bias or conflict of interest

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• explore patients’ understanding of and preferences for non-pharmacological and pharmacological management
• offer patients effective choices based on their expectations of treatment, health beliefs, and cost
• interpret and explain information to patients at the appropriate level of their health literacy
• anticipate queries to help enhance the likelihood of medicines being taken as advised
• ensure appropriate information is available at all steps of the medicine management pathway

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• appreciate patients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, attitudes, and beliefs, and how these might influence the acceptability of pharmacological and non-pharmacological management approaches

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• provide information to patients about prescribed medicines and:
  • how to take the medicine
  • potential side effects
  • what the medicine does
  • what the medicine is for
  • when the medicine should be stopped
• make prescribing decisions based on good safety data when the benefits outweigh the risks involved
• demonstrate understanding of the ethical implications of pharmaceutical industry-funded research and marketing

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• consider the efficacy of medicines in treating illnesses, including the relative merits of different non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches
• follow regulatory and legal requirements and limitations regarding prescribing
• follow organisational policies regarding pharmaceutical representative visits and drug marketing

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• use a systematic approach to select treatment options
• use medicines safely and effectively to get the best possible results
• choose suitable medicines only if medicines are considered necessary and will benefit patients
• prescribe medicines appropriately to patients’ clinical needs, in doses that meet their individual requirements, for a sufficient length of time, with the lowest cost to them
• evaluate new medicines in relation to their possible efficacy and safety profile for individual patients

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• recognise personal limitations and seek help in an appropriate way when required
• consider the following factors for all medicines:
  • contraindications
  • cost to patients, families, and the community
  • funding and regulatory considerations
  • generic versus brand medicines
  • interactions
  • risk-benefit analysis

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• interact with medical, pharmacy, and nursing staff to ensure safe and effective medicine use
• communicate rationale for medications and safety monitoring to primary care physicians, along with advice on medication management

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• work collaboratively with pharmacists
• participate in medication safety and morbidity and mortality meetings

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• choose medicines in relation to comparative efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness against medicines already on the market
• prescribe for individual patients, considering allergies, current medicines, history, and preferences, ensuring that resources are used wisely for the benefit of patients

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• prescribe in accordance with the organisational policy