NPS MedicineWise Learning
National Prescribing Curriculum
The National Prescribing Curriculum (NPC) is a series of interactive case-based modules that encourage confident and rational prescribing. The modules follow a stepwise approach as outlined in the WHO's Guide to Good Prescribing.
Target audience: Undergraduate and postgraduate medical students
Other audiences: Pharmacy, dental, nurse practitioner and other health professional students with an interest in prescribing.
CPD: It is recommended that 1 CPD hour be recorded for each module for the purposes of self-directed CPD.
The NPC modules are optimised for use on a computer or tablet. 
Modules
|
Therapeutic Area |
Module name |
Setting |
Start 2022 |
Start 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Antibiotic |
Urinary tract infection |
General Practice |
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|
A child with acute otitis media |
Hospital (paediatric) |
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|
Endocrinology |
Glycaemic control in long-established diabetes |
General Practice |
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|
Type 2 diabetes – initiating treatment |
General Practice |
|||
|
Type 2 diabetes – intensifying treatment |
General Practice |
|||
|
Polypharmacy |
Hospital |
|||
|
Respiratory |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation |
Hospital |
||
|
Cardiovascular |
Management of acute coronary syndrome |
Hospital |
||
|
Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation |
Hospital |
|||
|
Chronic heart failure |
Hospital |
|||
|
Hypertension |
General Practice |
|||
|
Lipid and CVD risk management |
General Practice |
|||
|
Prevention of venous thromboembolism |
Hospital |
|||
|
Analgesic |
Analgesia for low back pain |
General Practice |
||
|
Opioid analgesics in chronic non-cancer pain |
General Practice |
|||
|
Postoperative pain and vomiting |
Hospital |
|||
|
Gastrointestinal |
Helicobacter pylori infection |
General Practice |
||
|
Iron deficiency |
General Practice |
|||
|
Neurology |
Seizure |
Hospital |
||
|
Psychotropic |
Acute mania in bipolar disorder |
Hospital |
||
|
Depression in adolescents |
General Practice |
|||
|
Delirium in an older person |
Hospital |
|||
|
Insomnia |
General Practice |
|||
|
Alcohol withdrawal delirium |
Hospital |
|||
|
Oral and Dental |
Oral Pain |
Dental |
||
|
Toothache |
Dental |
|||
|
A non-healing tooth socket |
Dental |
Learning outcomes
Click on the module title below to view its learning outcomes
- A child with acute otitis media
- Acute mania in bipolar disorder
- Alcohol withdrawal delirium
- Analgesia for low back pain
- Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation
- Chronic heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation
- Delirium in an older person
- Dental – A non-healing tooth socket
- Dental – Oral pain
- Dental – Toothache
- Depression in adolescents
- Glycaemic control in long-established diabetes
- Helicobacter pylori infection
- Hypertension
- Insomnia
- Iron deficiency
- Lipid and CVD risk management
- Management of acute coronary syndrome
- Opioid analgesics in chronic non-cancer pain
- Polypharmacy
- Postoperative pain and vomiting
- Prevention of venous thromboembolism
- Seizure
- Type 2 diabetes – initiating treatment
- Type 2 diabetes – intensifying treatment
- Urinary tract infection
In this module you will provide care for Jack, who is brought to the emergency department by his dad.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Determine patient signs and symptoms which suggest the need for antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media, while also being mindful of when antibiotics are not indicated.
- Where antibiotic treatment is required, choose an appropriate antibiotic to cover the most likely causative organisms.
- Write a safe and complete prescription using the safety features of the paediatric National Inpatient Medication Chart.
- Adequately communicate the proposed treatment plan and potential medicine-related adverse effects to the child's parent(s) or carer(s) and the healthcare team.
- Develop an appropriate plan for monitoring a child's response to therapy, including indications for escalating care.
In this module you will provide care for Claire, a patient brought to the emergency department (ED) by her husband because she has become increasingly irritable and irrational and has stopped eating and drinking.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Recommend non-pharmacological management strategies for mania.
- Identify evidenced-based pharmacological treatment options for acute mania in bipolar I disorder.
- Recognise the importance of compliance to pharmacological therapy in successfully preventing relapse.
- Identify information important to communicate with patients and the healthcare team.
- Select appropriate parameters to monitor treatment response during both acute and maintenance phases of bipolar I disorder.
In this module you will provide care for James, who suffers acute withdrawal from alcohol while in hospital recovering from pneumonia.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
- Formulate a suitable management plan for a patient suffering alcohol withdrawal.
- Identify non-pharmacological interventions that may assist with the management of alcohol withdrawal.
- Prescribe an appropriate medicine to manage acute alcohol withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal delirium.
- Describe how to monitor the patient’s response to treatment.
In this module you will provide care for Maria, a patient at your general practice who asks for help to manage her acute low back pain.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify therapeutic goals in managing low back pain.
- Establish non-pharmacological treatment modalities used to manage low back pain.
- Use a step-wise approach to managing low back pain with medicines.
- Discuss common adverse effects of medicines used for the management of low back pain.
- Identify contraindications and drug interactions for medicines used for the treatment of low back pain.
In this module you will prescribe appropriate anticoagulation for a patient with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Recommend appropriate stroke prophylaxis for a patient with non-valvular AF after considering their risk of stroke and bleeding.
- Describe the stroke risk reduction provided by anticoagulants and antiplatelets in the setting of non-valvular AF.
- Understand the bleeding risk associated with the different anticoagulants and antiplatelets in AF.
- Discuss absolute and relative contraindications to warfarin therapy.
- Understand the risks and benefits of anticoagulation therapy using direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors.
In this module you will provide care for Roberta, a patient with heart failure.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify therapeutic goals in the management of chronic heart failure.
- Prescribe the standard regimen of medicines used in the management of chronic heart failure in a patient with stable symptoms.
- Determine medicines that can precipitate an exacerbation of heart failure and that should be avoided.
- Identify appropriate monitoring parameters for chronic heart failure.
In this module you will provide care for Mary, a patient brought to the emergency department due to increasing shortness of breath over the past 3 to 4 days.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify two therapeutic goals in treating patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD.
- Select medicines to add to your personal formulary that are used in the management of acute exacerbations of COPD.
- Complete all the details on a patient's medication chart so that the medicines which you have prescribed can be administered to the patient in the way that you intended.
- Select suitable parameters to monitor a patient’s response to treatment during an acute exacerbation and the longer term course of COPD.
In this module, you will manage confusion arising during an exacerbation of an elderly patient's chronic heart failure.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify common causes of delirium in elderly patients.
- Formulate an acute management plan for an elderly patient with confusion.
- Identify appropriate non-pharmacological interventions to manage a patient with delirium.
- Choose an appropriate short-term pharmacological intervention for managing delirium and write a prescription for the chosen medicine.
- Describe how to monitor response to treatment in a patient with confusion.
- Identify key information to be communicated to the patient, their carers and general practitioner (GP) on discharge.
In this module you will treat a patient with complications after dental extraction.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Describe the factors that can lead to development of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw ONJ (MRONJ).
- List the various medications implicated in ONJ
- Describe prevention measures and management strategies when drugs associated with ONJ are identified on a patient’s medical history
- Identify at least two therapeutic goals in treating patients with complications arising from dental extraction
- Make the correct diagnosis and identify therapeutic outcomes for treating the patient
- Identify non-pharmacological interventions that will assist the patient
- Identify the classes of medicines used to manage post extraction infections
- Choose your Preferred drugs for treating infection and pain
- Write a prescription and a pharmacy note for over-the-counter (OTC) items
In this module you will provide dental care for patient with a complex range of oral symptoms.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Make the correct diagnosis and identify therapeutic outcomes for providing care for the patient.
- Recognise that more than one pathological state may co-exist.
- Identify non-pharmacological treatments that may assist the patient.
- Identify the classes of medicines used to manage acute pain and ulcers.
- Choose your ‘Preferred drugs’ for treating inflammation and pain.
- Write a prescription and a pharmacy note for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that may assist the patient.
In this module you will provide care for Brian, a patient with a toothache.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify therapeutic goals in the treatment of patients presenting with toothache.
- Make the correct diagnosis and identify therapeutic outcomes for treating the patient.
- Identify non-pharmacological treatment options that will assist the patient.
- Identify medicines that will assist the patient.
- Write a prescription for your patient and make recommendations for over the counter medicines.
In this module you will provide care for Max, an adolescent male with depression.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Understand the importance of considering a full history to put into context a presentation of depression.
- Integrate risk assessment, including risk of harm to self or others, into routine care of young people with depression.
- Discuss the range of management options for young people with depression.
- Outline the risks and benefits of antidepressants in young people with depression.
- Develop a systematic approach for monitoring treatment and referring as appropriate.
In this module you will provide care for Amy, a patient attending your general practice for a routine checkup of her diabetes.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Outline the role of lifestyle intervention in the ongoing management of diabetes.
- Demonstrate an understanding of metformin as monotherapy and in combination therapy.
- Understand the actions and side effects of add-on medicines and their place in therapy.
- Understand the benefit of initiating therapy with insulin early and describe common barriers to insulin therapy.
- Select appropriate insulin therapy and develop a plan to monitor associated adverse effects.
In this module you will provide care for Claire, a patient who presents to you for a follow-up appointment to discuss the results of some tests that she had last week.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify therapeutic outcomes of treating peptic ulcers.
- Identify the three classes of medicines which make up first-line triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication.
- Write a safe and complete prescription for H. pylori eradication therapy.
- Outline the parameters for determining treatment success following completion of a course of H. pylori eradication therapy.
In this module you will provide care for Trevor, a patient who presents to you on the background of a high blood pressure reading, detected during a worksite health check.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify patient factors that must be considered when making a diagnosis of hypertension.
- Identify effective non-pharmacological management options recommended for all patients.
- Identify cardiovascular risk reduction goals as part of the treatment of hypertension.
- Compile a personal formulary of individual medicines for the pharmacological management of hypertension..
In this module you will provide care for Margaret, a patient who presents to you for a repeat prescription for temazepam.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify and address causes and exacerbating factors for insomnia.
- Outline the role of non-pharmacological interventions for the management of insomnia.
- Understand the principles of psychological and behavioural interventions.
- Discuss the risks of using hypnotic medicines in the treatment of insomnia.
- Describe a plan for withdrawing benzodiazepines.
In this module you will provide care for Connie, a patient presenting for follow-up to discuss the results of her blood tests.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify common causes of iron deficiency.
- Select appropriate pharmacological treatment to address nutritional deficiency.
- Identify important points pertaining to iron supplementation to discuss with the patient and healthcare team.
- Determine short- and long-term parameters to monitor response to treatment.
- Identify the indications for intravenous iron supplementation.
In this module you meet Ric, a patient who comes to see you concerned about his risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Make an assessment of a person’s cardiovascular risk.
- Highlight cardiovascular risk discussion points and encourage lifestyle modifications.
- Choose an appropriate lipid-modifying medicine.
- Monitor the therapeutic and adverse effects of lipid-modifying medicines.
- List strategies which encourage long-term compliance with lifestyle modifications and, if prescribed, lipid-modifying medicines.
In this module you will provide care for Anne, a patient experiencing an episode of chest pain while recovering in hospital from pneumonia.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Outline key points of clinical assessment of a patient with acute coronary syndrome.
- List three treatment goals in the management of acute coronary syndrome.
- List the main drug classes used in the management of acute coronary syndrome.
- List three adverse effects of beta-blockers.
- Describe two differences between unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH).
- Name an absolute contraindication to the use of aspirin in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
- Describe three measures of monitoring a patient’s response to treatment.
In this module, you will provide care for Winston, a 64-year-old artist who has come to see you for worsening back pain.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- recognise the role of thorough history and physical examination to determine if investigations are necessary
- develop a multidisciplinary pain management plan
- explore non-pharmacological strategies for management of chronic non-cancer pain
- understand the importance of initiating opioid therapy on a trial basis only to assess effectiveness and adverse effects
- understand the risks and benefits of opioid analgesia in chronic non-cancer pain
- review the use of ongoing opioid analgesia with an aim to discontinue.
In this module you will provide care for an elderly patient admitted to hospital with multi-organ failure. They are prescribed multiple medicines for various comorbidities which have contributed to the presentation.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Recognise inappropriate use of medicines and medicine adverse effects.
- Describe the important aspects of medication review.
- Understand the importance of obtaining an accurate medication history from patients upon admission to hospital.
- Identify the important components of hospital discharge, including the provision of information to the patient and health professionals responsible for the patient’s care.
In this module you will provide care for Rita, a patient recovering on the ward who is experiencing pain and nausea after an open cholecystectomy.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Locate medicines information on available classes of analgesics and antiemetics.
- Identify factors which increase a patient’s risk of developing postsurgical nausea and pain.
- Determine therapeutic goals in the management of postoperative symptoms.
- Prescribe appropriate pharmacological treatment options to manage postoperative nausea and vomiting.
- Prescribe appropriate pharmacological treatment options to manage analgesia postoperatively.
In this module you will consider appropriate venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention for a hospital inpatient. This is an important issue to learn about, as despite available options for prevention, VTE (encompassing deep venous thrombosis [DVT] and pulmonary embolism [PE]) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality for inpatients of Australian hospitals. An estimated 2000 people die each year from VTE, and many of these cases are preventable.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Identify patient factors that increase the risk of developing VTE.
- Determine patient factors that increase the risk of bleeding.
- Describe non-pharmacological options for VTE prevention.
- Recall the therapeutic options for prevention of VTE.
- Identify resources to guide decision making regarding VTE prevention.
In this module you will provide care for Jeanne, who is brought to the Emergency Department (ED) by ambulance following a seizure.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Outline the initial pharmacological management of generalised seizures and partial seizures.
- Identify long-term goals in the management of epilepsy.
- Write a prescription for the medicine you wish to prescribe.
- Provide verbal and written information about medicines to the patient and the healthcare team.
- Explain when monitoring of plasma drug concentrations is indicated.
- Discuss concerns about using antiepileptic medicines in women of child-bearing potential.
In this module you will provide care for Richard, a patient attending your general practice with unusual symptoms of thirst.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Assess a patient with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
- Establish appropriate treatment goals for a patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
- List non-pharmacological treatment options for type 2 diabetes
- Choose appropriate first line medicines for treatment of type 2 diabetes
- Choose appropriate monitoring for the treatment regime
In this module you will provide care for Richard, a patient attending your general practice for a routine follow-up appointment for management of his type 2 diabetes.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Establish appropriate treatment goals for a patient with type 2 diabetes.
- Evaluate and prescribe a third-line medicine for management of type 2 diabetes.
- Recommend appropriate combinations of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options.
- Describe an appropriate monitoring regimen for selected glucose-lowering medicines.
In this module you will provide care for Julianna, a patient presenting with dysuria (or pain when urinating).
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you should be able to:
- Prescribe an appropriate first-line medicine for treatment of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection.
- Identify effective alternatives if your first-line choice is unsuitable in any particular case.
- Demonstrate awareness of the implications of penicillin hypersensitivity in the choice, or avoidance, of alternative antibiotics.
- Document important information that you would discuss with a patient with an uncomplicated urinary tract infection including non-pharmacological interventions.
Review schedule
Reviews completed January – June 2020
- Depression in adolescents
- Delirium in an older person
- Insomnia
- Opioid analgesics in chronic non-cancer pain
Reviews completed July – December 2020
- Acute mania in bipolar disorder
- Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation
- Alcohol withdrawal delirium
- Helicobacter pylori infection
- Iron deficiency
- Management of acute coronary syndrome
- Prevention of venous thromboembolism
Reviews completed January – June 2021
-
Withdrawal of the acute pulmonary oedema NPC module.
After expert review and advice we are no longer offering the acute pulmonary module as part of the NPC suite of modules from 1 July 2021. The module has significant overlap with the heart failure module and does not align well with the current NPC program and it’s focus on prescribing. If you have any queries regarding this please contact elearning@nps.org.au - Hypertension
- Lipid and CVD risk management
- Chronic heart failure
Reviews completed July – December 2021
- Seizure
- Analgesia for low back pain
- Urinary tract infection
- Type 2 diabetes - initiating treatment
- Type 2 diabetes - intensifying treatment
- Glycaemic control in long established diabetes
- A child with acute otitis media
Reviews scheduled Jan – June 2022
- Postoperative pain and vomiting
- Polypharmacy
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation
- Dental - A non-healing tooth socket
- Dental - Toothache
- Dental - Oral pain
Testimonials
"NPC has been an important part of the UNSW Medicine undergraduate programme from as soon as the modules became available. Undertaking the modules is compulsory for our senior students in the final two years of their 6-year medical course. The ‘content’ from the modules is identified to the students as examinable in their final barrier examinations, the Integrated Clinical Examination (ICE). The students bring their ‘personal formulary’, derived from working through the NPC modules, with them to the viva exam component of ICE. Any aspect of their formulary can be raised in the viva. The portfolio that each student builds as they progress through Medicine records the accomplishment of the NPC modules. UNSW has been enthusiastic supporters of the high quality, interactive modules and is looking forward to the ability of our administrators to track our student’s progress through modules by incorporation into our information management system (LIMS), a pilot with NPS that we have been pleased to be part of. [The NPC] is an indispensable contributor to education of medical students. We look forward to more innovative ways of using this wonderful resource."
Professor Ric Day
Department of Clinical Pharmacology " Toxicology, St Vincent’s Clinical Campus, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Sydney
"These modules were excellent. They combined all of my pre-clinical learning into a practical applied clinical context. So useful. Information is in an easy to understand format. Please make more!!!"
Student user of NPC
"Great modules. Presenting a case with relevant AMH materials allows focused learning. Requiring us to prescribe medications and provide rationale for each is very helpful. I've learned more pharmacology from these modules than from actual medical school. Great work."
Medical student
CPD
It is recommended that 1 CPD hour be recorded for each module for the purposes of self-directed CPD.
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