Nottingham university's virtual school of pharmacy practice (VSPP), launched on the internet at the end of last year, is to offer its first full on-line diploma in pharmacy practice from the autumn. The VSPP has been created to develop internet-based distance learning courses in pharmacy practice. The first module of the diploma course - pharmacy and the internet - has already been piloted with a group of volunteers.
The aim of the module is to introduce pharmacists to the internet so that they can use it to enhance their practice and begin to develop a virtual community. It seeks to make participants proficient in the use of e-mail, bulletin boards, mailing lists and real-time chat rooms, web browsing, web searching and evaluating the relevance and value of websites.
The module was designed and developed using educational management software called WebCT. This has been developed by the computer sciences department at the University of British Columbia and has been used for several years for the delivery of an on-line course on structure-based drug design.
In a statement issued by the VSPP, one of its students (Miss Clare Carter) said: "Using computer technology to aid learning is an excellent opportunity since I have easy access to a machine at home and at work. Learning via the computer has inspired me. The main advantage of the course is the flexibility over more traditional learning tools. I found the section on synchronous internet based communication particularly thought provoking. I am confident that the future role of pharmacists will involve new computer technology such as this"
Further modules that will be available for the diploma course include: pharmacy as a profession; developing a practice-based portfolio; models of practice; prescribing advice; minor ailments; health promotion; health economics; pharmacy and health policy; research methodology; and sociology for pharmacists.
Dr Claire Anderson (director of pharmacy practice and social pharmacy, Nottingham university) said that the course was to be developed into a master's degree, and possibly to a DPharm.
Information and application forms are available on the VSPP website at www.nottingham.ac.uk/pharmacy/vspp.

The Nottingham VSPP's homepage