SOS2130 Work, health and housing Course description

In this course, the students will acquire knowledge of how work, health and health problems, and living situation impact people’s quality of life. Work is a central arena for preventing social problems and promoting inclusion and participation in society. Paid work helps people support themselves, which gives them extended rights and access to important benefits from the welfare state. Characteristics of the labour market and challenges at the individual level such as substance abuse, mental and somatic illness, functional impairments and language barriers can impact the opportunities available in the labour market. Lack of housing and education is a risk factor. This is part of the social worker’s knowledge of working life, where holistic follow-up may be necessary to both find and keep a job. The course focuses on how social workers can work with people in vulnerable life situations, including helping people with work inclusion.

This course provides an introduction to professional practice in the field of pharmacy, and places pharmacy in the context of professional healthcare. The course includes fundamental knowledge about health professions, pharmaceuticals’ place in society and topics that form common reference points for practice of the different professions, such as laws and guidelines, critical ethical reflection skills, communication and interaction. The pharmacist’s professional practice will be elucidated with examples related to ethics, the duty of confidentiality and consent.

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• is familiar with the professional role of the pharmacist in a historical, current and future-oriented perspective
• is familiar with the role of pharmaceuticals in the health service in a national and global perspective
• can explain what characterises the concept of profession and what constitutes professional competence
• can explain ethical theory, ethical dilemmas and the importance of professional ethical guidelines
• can explain key concepts in the field of communication theory
• can explain the concept of culture and challenges related to intercultural communication
• can explain relevant laws and regulations
• is familiar with challenges in connection with pharmacological treatments and supervision of vulnerable patient groups, such as children, young people and the elderly
• can explain the pharmacy's position in the health services, including the development of health services in pharmacies
• is familiar with the use and limitations of different sources of information about pharmaceuticals
• is familiar with challenges related to the use of pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements and plant-based pharmaceuticals

Skills

The student can

• use digital tools in group work with fellow students
• cooperate and communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds by being open and taking an interest

General competence

The student

• can identify and reflect on professional ethical dilemmas in the field of pharmacy and reflect on his/her own values and efforts in simple projects and tasks relevant to the profession
• can act with empathy and respect, and promote equality that promotes co-determination in process and target-oriented work
• can understand the importance of communication when encountering people from different cultural and social backgrounds

Work and teaching methods include lectures, group work, project work and seminars. Student-active learning methods and digital tools are used in the teaching to promote communication and engagement.

The students work in groups where they use relevant course literature to discuss different everyday situations from the pharmacy and relate them to topics from the lectures. The groups must also cooperate on a project assignment.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• A minimum attendance requirement of 80% in scheduled and supervised group work, and at seminars with oral presentations.
• Presentation of a project assignment in communication

Oral exam in groups of 5-8 students, up to 50 minutes.

No aids permitted

Pass/fail

All exams are assessed by two examiners. At least 50% of the exam papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment should benefit all the students.