How BPS Assessment Supports Prescribing Skills

In today’s complex healthcare environment, the ability to prescribe safely and effectively is a critical skill for medical professionals. As healthcare continues to evolve, the need for rigorous training and assessment in prescribing has never been more important. In this blog, we take a look at the Prescribing Skills Assessment and how this important learning tool is supporting the development of these vital skills.

 

The Importance of Prescribing Skills

 

Prescribing is more than just selecting the correct medication; it involves a deep understanding of pharmacology, patient-specific factors, potential drug interactions, and ongoing monitoring. Errors in prescribing can lead to significant patient harm, making it crucial that healthcare professionals are well-trained and confident in their prescribing abilities.

We at BPS Assessment, recognise this need and have developed the Prescribing Skills Assessment to ensure that medical students and healthcare professionals from outside of the UK medical training programme, are thoroughly prepared to take on the responsibilities of prescribing.

 

What is the Prescribing Skills Assessment?

 

The Prescribing Skills Assessment is a comprehensive tool designed to evaluate the prescribing competence of healthcare professionals and trainee doctors. Unlike the UK’s national Prescribing Safety Assessment (known as PSA), which is a mandatory exam for final-year medical students and foundation doctors, the Prescribing Skills Assessment is a flexible tool that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different institutions and learners.

The Prescribing Skills Assessment, while structured similarly to the UK PSA, is used as a formative learning tool to drive the development of prescribing competencies through realistic clinical scenarios. It covers essential areas such as:

  • Drug selection and dose calculation: Ensuring the right medication and dosage is prescribed for each patient based on their current health and medication.
  • Monitoring and reviewing therapy: Understanding how to follow up on a prescription, assess its effectiveness, and make necessary adjustments.
  • Avoiding prescribing errors: Recognising potential pitfalls, such as drug interactions or contraindications, and taking steps to avoid them.

How the PSA Supports Learning and Development

 

One of the key strengths of the Prescribing Skills Assessment is its focus on practical, real-world application. The assessment is designed to reflect the kinds of situations that healthcare professionals encounter in their daily practice, helping students and practitioners develop the confidence and competence they need to prescribe safely.

 

Tailored for Different Learning Environments

 

The flexibility of the Prescribing Skills Assessment makes it an ideal tool for various educational settings. It can be used by medical schools, nursing programmes, and other healthcare education institutions to assess and develop their students’ prescribing skills. Institutions can integrate the exam into their curricula, using it as a formative assessment tool to identify areas where students need further development.

 

Comprehensive Feedback

 

One of the standout features of the assessment is the detailed feedback it provides. After completing the assessment, candidates receive a breakdown of their performance in different areas of prescribing with further details on optimal and sub-optimal ways in which to treat the  patient. This feedback is invaluable for guiding study and practice, helping learners to focus on their specific areas of weakness and improve their overall competence.

 

Supporting Continuous Improvement

 

For institutions, the Prescribing Skills Assessment is not just an assessment tool; it’s a resource for continuous improvement in teaching and learning. By analysing the results and feedback from their students or trainees, educators can identify trends, adjust their teaching methods, and ensure that their programs are effectively preparing students for the challenges of prescribing in clinical practice.

 

The Role of BPS Assessment in Enhancing Prescribing Skills

 

Our commitment to supporting prescribing education goes beyond the Prescribing Skills Assessment. We also provide a suite of resources and tools designed to complement the assessment and further develop prescribing skills.

eLearning Modules

 

We offer over 50 targeted eLearning modules that cover essential pharmacology and prescribing topics. These modules are designed to reinforce the knowledge required for effective prescribing and provide a solid foundation for the skills assessed in the Prescribing Skills Assessment.

 

Practice Papers and Practice Exams

 

To help students prepare for the Prescribing Skills Assessment, we provide practice papers and even simulated assessments. These resources allow learners to familiarise themselves with the format of the exam, practise their time management, and refine their decision-making skills in a controlled environment.

 

Prescribing is a critical skill that requires a combination of knowledge, experience, and sound clinical judgement. The Prescribing Skills Assessment is a vital tool in supporting the development of these skills. By offering a flexible, comprehensive, and practical assessment, along with a range of supporting resources, we can help institutions support their healthcare trainees to prescribe safely and effectively.

 

Whether you’re a student, educator, or healthcare professional, we offer a pathway to mastering the art and science of prescribing, ensuring that every prescription is a step towards better patient care. Get in touch today to find out how you can implement our prescribing resources in your institution. Email us at team@bpsassessment.com

A User-Friendly Guide to BPS Assessment’s Prescribing Tools

Teaching prescribing can be tricky, with many professors and academics struggling for time and resources. But with BPS Assessment’s suite of prescribing tools, institutions have access to a collection of resources developed specifically to improve prescribing and patient safety. Let’s delve into the range of products offered and how they cater to your needs.

 

1. Prescribing Skills Assessment

The Prescribing Skills Assessment, not to be confused with the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) stands as a cornerstone for evaluating prescribing proficiency among medical and healthcare students. Its assessment framework taken from the UK PSA not only measures theoretical knowledge but also assesses practical prescribing skills in simulated clinical scenarios. By utilising this formative exam, institutions can pinpoint areas of strength and weakness, enabling targeted interventions and ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for safe and effective prescribing in clinical practice.

 

2. eLearning Modules

Our eLearning modules serve as dynamic supplements to traditional teaching methods, catering to diverse learning styles. These interactive modules cover a wide range of prescribing topics, from pharmacology principles to drug interactions, allowing students to deepen their understanding at their own pace. With engaging content and real-world case studies, these modules enhance theoretical knowledge and practical skills, providing a comprehensive learning experience for medical, pharmacy and nursing programs alike.

 

3. CPT Elective

The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) elective offers a unique opportunity for medical students to immerse themselves in the world of prescribing. Through hands-on clinical scenarios and expert guidance, students gain invaluable experience in making evidence-based prescribing decisions, understanding drug mechanisms, and managing patient medications effectively. As part of this elective course students will first test their existing knowledge with our pre-course knowledge check, then work through a series of eLearning sessions to strengthen their skills and understanding. Lastly, they will complete a final assessment to evaluate their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills but also their preparedness for complex prescribing in diverse healthcare settings. 

 

4. Platform Licensing Offering

For institutions seeking a comprehensive prescribing solution, we offer platform licensing. This customisable option provides access to a suite of prescribing tools, including the prescribing platform, question authoring console with question templates and drug bank, each of which can be tailored to meet specific institutional needs. With flexible licensing arrangements and ongoing support, institutions can integrate these tools seamlessly into their curriculum, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to teaching prescribing.

 

By leveraging these prescribing tools, institutions can create a dynamic learning environment that fosters competence and confidence among aspiring healthcare professionals. Embrace innovation, empower learners, and elevate the standard of prescribing education with BPS Assessment. Take a look at our products and services page or get in touch with the team to arrange a platform demo.  

The Dacre Review: An Independent Review into the Prescribing Safety Assessment

The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) stands as a pivotal milestone in the journey of medical professionals, serving as a crucial evaluation of their competence in prescribing medications safely and effectively. Since 2017, it has been a mandatory part of the medical education curriculum, ensuring that junior doctors are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed and safe prescription decisions. 

 

Recent developments have placed the PSA under a spotlight, as the findings of the independent Dacre Review have shed new light on its structure, content, and overall impact. In this blog, we delve deeper into the Prescribing Safety Assessment, exploring its significance in medical education, and examine the key takeaways from the Dacre Review. 

 

Unearthing insights: Why the Dacre Review was commissioned

 

In 2022, the British Pharmacological Society and the Medical Schools Council jointly commissioned an extensive review of the PSA. The goal was to evaluate the exam’s effectiveness and determine its future direction. The review was overseen by top representatives from across the NHS and medical education programme in the UK, who under the chair of Professor Dame Jane Dacre, have proposed a set of recommendations for the exam. 

 

Headlines from the Review

 

The findings from the review can be boiled down to some key themes, we’ve summarised them below; 

 

Support for the Prescribing Safety Assessment 

 

The consensus among stakeholders and echoed by the oversight group is that there is widespread support for the PSA. Many understand that prescribing has changed and will continue to change with the introduction of new medications coupled with prescribing in an ageing population, giving rise to complex challenges which junior doctors need to be prepared for. This is where the exam not only presents an opportunity for students to assess their prescribing skills but also build their knowledge and confidence in prescribing before advancing in their careers. 

 

Impact of the Prescribing Safety Assessment  

 

The review not only focused on the exam’s effectiveness, but also considered its impact on both students and patients. The data suggests that the PSA is a robust tool for assessing prescribing competency and that since its implementation there has been little difference in the performance between medical schools and regions across the UK, an indication of its reliability.

 

Aside from the direct impact on students, there is evidence to suggest that the PSA also has had a positive effect on the safety of patients. Since the PSA was made mandatory in 2017, the percentage of medication-related patient safety incidents has reduced year-on-year.  

 

The Future of the Prescribing Safety Assessment  

 

The recommendations put forth by the Dacre Review mark a pivotal turning point for the future of the PSA. Among others, it highlights the need for sustained and equitable funding to ensure the PSA’s accessibility and continued improvement. As well as, better regulation and a more robust governance structure to enhance transparency and accountability, bringing together key stakeholders to guide its development and delivery. 

 

These recommendations collectively represent a promising vision for the PSA’s future, one that prioritises fairness, quality, and sustainability in assessing the prescribing competence of future healthcare professionals. The PSA is poised to evolve into a more effective and reliable assessment tool, forming an integral part of the medical education curriculum within the UK that is better equipped to prepare healthcare practitioners for the challenges of modern medicine.

Advancing Patient Safety and Prescribing Skills: A Webinar Series

In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, patient safety remains a top priority, and the field of prescribing is no exception. At BPS Assessment we are dedicated to promoting safe and effective prescribing practices, and recently, teamed up with iGroup in Malaysia along with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) to host a series of enlightening webinars. These webinars were designed to shed light on the importance of prescribing safety and introduce the powerful tools that the BPS Assessment platform provides. In this blog, we will delve into the details of these webinars, showcasing the collaborative effort and valuable insights shared by experts in the field.

 

Collaboration Across Borders

 

The collaboration between BPS Assessment and iGroup, a prominent player in the Asian educational and library market, has been a significant step towards promoting prescribing safety and competence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. iGroup is known for its association with Medicines Complete, which is a valuable resource provided by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. This connection allowed the webinars to present a comprehensive picture of tools and resources available for educators and students.

 

Wide-Reaching Audience

 

In order to reach out to a diverse audience, we launched two webinars as part of our joint initiative. The goal was to welcome participants from various locations covered by iGroup including Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The first webinar held on October 24th was a huge success and we have another one scheduled for November 14th. These webinars are tailored towards the training needs of healthcare professionals and those involved in the teaching and practice of prescribing; including academic pharmacologists, prescribing educators, clinical educators, pharmacy educators, as well as medical and pharmacy students.

 

24th October Webinar: A Way Forward in Patient Safety

 

The first webinar, titled “A Way Forward in Patient Safety,” kicked off with a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of patient safety in clinical practice, emphasising the significance of starting with undergraduate education. The event delved into the rates of prescribing errors in the UK and various APAC countries, shedding light on the challenges faced in this crucial aspect of healthcare.

 

Solutions to address these challenges, particularly in prescribing training and assessment, were discussed, highlighting evidence of engagement and improvement in prescribing safety. The webinar included a walkthrough of the BPS Assessment platform, giving attendees a glimpse of the user journey and learning capabilities. Medicines Complete also had a presence, offering an overview of the tools they provide, such as the British National Formulary (BNF), which complements our prescribing skills assessments.

 

14th November Webinar: Teaching Tips for Prescribing Educators

 

The second webinar, titled “Teaching Tips for Prescribing Educators,” is set to delve deeper into the educational aspect of prescribing. It will explore the role and importance of a prescribing curriculum, emphasising the topics and expected competencies in prescribing for medical and pharmacy students.

 

Educators and presenters will share valuable tips on how to teach prescribing effectively and the different ways of assessing prescribing competency while giving examples of the success in prescribing education such as the UK’s National Pharmacology/Prescribing eLearning platform. As in the first webinar, this event also features a brief platform walkthrough, offering educators a glimpse of the platform’s capabilities and features.

 

The collaboration between BPS, RPS, and iGroup represents a significant step towards advancing patient safety and prescribing skills in the APAC region. These webinars provide a platform for experts to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and introduce valuable tools for educators and students. It’s clear that the commitment to enhancing patient safety through education and assessment is a shared mission, transcending borders and benefiting all those involved in the field of healthcare. With the knowledge and insights gained from these webinars, we can look forward to a safer and more competent generation of healthcare professionals in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

 

Join us on the 14th of November to find out more about the BPS Assessment prescribing platform!

eLearning and CPD resources from BPS Assessment

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, staying up to date with the latest developments and best practices is crucial for both students and professionals. One area that requires constant improvement is prescribing, as it directly impacts patient outcomes and safety. Our eLearning and CPD resources are here to help students and healthcare professionals enhance their prescribing skills and clinical pharmacology knowledge.

 

Prescribing eLearning resources

We recognise the importance of equipping students and healthcare professionals with the necessary tools to make informed and safe prescribing decisions. Our eLearning modules are designed to provide comprehensive and interactive learning examples that cover a wide range of topics related to prescribing and clinical pharmacology.

 

One of the standout features of our eLearning resources is the emphasis on real-life scenarios and case studies. This approach allows learners to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical situations, enhancing their critical thinking and decision-making skills. Whether you’re a medical student learning the ropes or a seasoned healthcare professional aiming to stay current, these resources offer valuable insights that can be directly implemented in your practice.

 

Continued Professional Development for Clinicians

For those working on their re-accreditation, we also offer a dedicated CPD (Continuing Professional Development) resource. The CPD assessment, which is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians, consists of 30 question items for participants to work through, which evaluates various aspects of the learner’s understanding, including their ability to analyze patient cases, the factors affecting drug interactions and the ability to communicate important information to the patient. On completion of the assessment participants earn 6 CPD points to add to their CPD diaries.

 

In a world where healthcare is rapidly evolving, it’s essential for students and professionals to stay on top of their game. That’s why we have developed our eLearning and CPD resources, to serve as invaluable tools for enhancing prescribing skills, clinical pharmacology knowledge, and patient safety awareness. Whether you’re a student aspiring to become a competent prescriber or a healthcare professional striving to continuously improve, these resources offer a comprehensive and interactive learning experience that will undoubtedly benefit both you and your patients.

Putting prescribing centre stage: BPS Assessment at the World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) recently hosted the 19th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP), the largest event in the pharmacology community. Held every four years, the conference brings together delegates from around the world to share research and engage in sessions about the latest advancements in the field of pharmacology.

 

Our team joined the hosts at the BPS stand to welcome delegates and showcase the capabilities of our online platform used by customers to enhance prescribing skills and knowledge through eLearning and assessment resources. 

 

Supporting prescribing in the Middle East 

We had the opportunity to contribute to the scientific programme, by hosting a special symposium for Middle East and GCC delegates, which focused on prescribing training and the challenges to prescribing practices within the region. The speakers included; 

 

  • His Excellency Professor Aws Alshamsan, Secretary General, Saudi Commission For Health Specialties, Saudi Arabia
  • Professor Sherief Khalifa, Vice Chancellor for Quality & Institutional Effectiveness, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, UAE
  • Professor Moustafa Fahmy, Dean of the Oman College of Health Sciences, Oman
  • Professor Dileep Rohra, Head of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia.
  • Professor Amal Fatani, Cultural Attaché, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom
  • Professor Ismael Ibrahim Matalka, President, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, UAE
  • Professor Simon Maxwell, Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Teaching, University of Edinburgh, and PSA Medical Director

 

Further discussions focused on the need for better prescribing education for students and trainees through assessment and learning resources and how these improvements could be scaled across institutions in the Middle East.

 

Advancing prescribing in Australasia 

The team also met with customers from Australia and New Zealand to discuss the progress of the Prescribing Skills Assessment. The meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to come together and discuss strengthening the collaboration between Australasian medical schools and BPS Assessment. Discussions covered setting up local governance structures to support future summative exam delivery and focussed on creating an international partnership that will support the expansion of the Prescribing Skills Assessment in Australasia.

 

Meeting with existing and future customers 

Across the week, a number of our customers showcased their research findings through scientific posters. Partners from Koc University in Turkey and International Medical University in Malaysia were among the exhibitors, discussing their experiences with the Prescribing Skills Assessment and the positive impact it has had on prescribing knowledge and practices within their institutions.

 

The event was an excellent opportunity to connect with current and future customers while emphasising the significance of enhancing prescribing knowledge and skills in healthcare, particularly for emerging practitioners. 

 

We are thrilled that delegates who were able to attend enjoyed their time at the SEC, and we’re already anticipating the next meeting in 2026, which will be hosted by our colleagues at ASCEPT.

Enhance your professional development with a new CPD assessment

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new assessment which has been accredited by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), UK.

 

Members enrolled on the assessment and Continued Professional Development (CPD) scheme run by RCP, can now sign up for this new resource via the BPS Assessment Learner Portal. Upon completion, there are 6 CPD points on offer for clinicians to add to their RCP CPD diary.

 

The assessment, which includes 30 prescribing questions, follows the same blueprint as the Prescribing Safety Assessment and tests key competencies expected of medical professionals such as prescribing writing, prescription review, calculations and data interpretation.

“We hope that by providing this assessment we can help to improve the prescribing practices and continued learning of healthcare professionals. Many of our existing eLearning and assessments target undergraduates or foundation doctors so it’s great to be able to roll this out for more experienced clinicians as part of a recognised CPD programme.”

Rachel Lambert-Forsyth, CEO of the British Pharmacological Society and Managing Director of BPS Assessment

 

CPD is an essential aspect of being a medical professional. It’s a way of encouraging the ongoing learning and development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes which are necessary for maintaining competence and delivering safe and effective patient care.

 

BPS Assessment is pleased to now offer CPD training. Take a look at the RCP accredited assessment here, and get your 6 CPD points now!

 

Platform Licensing: creating prescribing education that matches your learning outcomes

Prescribing education is an important aspect of modern medical training, but it often means educators need to tailor their lessons to meet the specific requirement of both their students and their organisation’s curricula. We know through talking with our customers that creating engaging content that is both informative and effective can be a time-consuming task.

 

In this blog, we explore how the BPS Assessment’s online platform can aid in developing prescribing education, and improving prescribing competency among trainees while reducing the time burden on educators.

 

The challenges of developing prescribing education

Building resources that simulate or replicate prescribing in the real world are very few and far between, not only this, but educators often feel as though they have to go to huge lengths to create robust and engaging resources to help trainees better understand prescribing.

With limited time dedicated to this important area of medical education, students often finish their training with a lack of confidence in their prescribing abilities.

 

Creating unique prescribing resources with our online platform

Our online platform delivers prescribing eLearning and assessments to students who sign up for an account either independently or through their organisation.

 

We provide prescription writing questions, which test the students’ therapeutic intention, rather than trying to mimic a specific electronic prescribing system. By doing so, we can create a prescribing learning environment which is suitable for training all prescribers, regardless of the EPS that they go on to use.

 

Through years of research and development, we’ve established an authoring console which is built into the online platform, giving educators the opportunity to write, edit and administer prescribing resources.

 

Assessment templates on offer

Our out-of-the-box assessments follow a blueprint which tests 8 fundamental competencies in prescribing. The competencies can be seen in the image below.

Educators can choose to follow the blueprint and use the templates available to create their own assessments, or they also have the option to create their own templates depending on their requirements.

 

Take advantage of expert consultation

In order to create our database of questions, BPS Assessment works with a team of prescribing experts. As part of a platform licensing, educators have the option to consult with our team to ensure their prescribing resources are testing the right areas for their students while reflecting an accurate representation of what prescribing looks like in the real world.

 

You can request a demo of the platform to see how platform licensing might work for you and your organisation. Contact team@bspassessment.com

New monthly feature in Prescriber magazine

We are pleased to announce a new monthly feature in Prescriber magazine that will allow readers to test their prescribing knowledge across a range of medication safety topics. Every month we will feature one question item from the Prescribing Skills Assessment question bank, brought to you by BPS Assessment, with answers and formative feedback provided.

 

You can try this month’s question item for yourself here.

prescribing skills assessment

The Prescribing Skills Assessment question items span 8 core areas of prescribing skills, from prescription review to drug monitoring. These questions cover a range of clinical settings, including General Practice, Paediatrics, Opioids and AMR and mirror the question styles used in the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA).

This new monthly feature in Prescriber magazine will help bring these questions to an even wider audience, allowing readers to check their knowledge of common prescribing topics and get rich feedback.


Take a look at the new feature in this month’s issue of Prescriber or find out more about the full Prescribing Skills Assessment from BPS Assessment here and get in touch if you have any questions.