This new initiative across the School of
Pharmacy and Life Sciences at Robert Gordon University focuses around students
from the Overseas Pharmacist’s Assessment Programme (OSPAP) and 3rd year
Nutrition and Dietetics students working in an interprofessional setting to
manage the care of individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU). A problem based
learning approach was employed which involved small group interprofessional
working to solve a series of simulated case studies concerned with the
management of phenylketonuria. The session was further enhanced by an expert
patient narrative and the opportunity to test a series of commercially
available low protein/low phenylalanine food substitutes provided by
SHS-Nutricia and Vitaflo which are used in the disease management. Group
evaluation of the activity was generally positive with all groups indicating
that the learning objectives had been achieved in a setting which promoted
collaborative interprofessional working, acquisition of knowledge pertaining to
the management of PKU and a format which enabled a breadth and depth of
material to be covered in a relatively short time. The contributions of the
expert patient and availability of test samples enhanced the interactivity of
the session and provided a meaningful insight into the real life scenario of
PKU patients. Limitations of the session included the rather narrow range of healthcare
professional students involved in the activity and the need for better
signposting of preparatory reading material. Planned future developments of
this initiative aim to involve health visiting, biomedical science and social
work students to enable a more holistic approach to the health and social care
issues of PKU to be considered and the inclusion of an Articulate quiz activity
for student self evaluation pre event. In conclusion this initiative addressed
the 6 learning objectives in an interactive manner which received positive
learner feedback and the academic team has identified a clear strategy for
future development.
References
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European Medicines Agency (EMA) (2011). European public assessment report for Kuvan (EMA/173967/2011). URL (last checked 4 January 2013).
http://www.ema.europa.eu/Findmedicine
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NSPKU (2004). Management of PKU. A consensus document for the diagnosis and management of children, adolescents and adults with Phenylketonuria (pp. 1-18). The National Society for Phenylketonuria (United Kingdom) Ltd. http://www.nspku.org
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NSPKU (2010a). The prescription of low protein foods in PKU. The National Society for Phenylketonuria (United Kingdom) Ltd.
http://www.nspku.org
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NSPKU (2010b). The role of Sapropterin (Kuvan) in the management of PKU in the NHS: Considerations and prospects. The National Society for Phenylketonuria (United Kingdom) Ltd.
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