1. RPS. Keeping patients safe when they transfer between care providers – getting the

medicines right. Good practice guidance for healthcare professions. 2011. 2. Duggan C, Feldman R, Hough J, Bates I. Reducing adverse prescribing discrepancies following hospital discharge. Int J Pharm Pract. 1998; 6: 77–82. Lisa Mulligan, Simon White, Alison Gifford Keele University, Staffordshire, UK This study took a qualitative approach to exploring MPharm graduates’ involvement in local public health activities and their perspectives on how their undergraduate course had prepared them for this Most participants reported regular involvement in activities including provision of advice and interventions, measurement of SD-208 physical parameters and health promotion campaigns The MPharm course was commonly reported to have prepared them by instilling confidence and understanding, but a lot of participants reported that they would have preferred more preparation and especially more experience gained through practice placements The contribution that pharmacy can make to public health has been increasingly SGI-1776 recognized in recent years and there is increasing evidence of benefit for a range of public health pharmacy services.1 Studies have surveyed pharmacy students’ perceptions of pharmacists’ public health roles and responsibilities,1 but research exploring

UK MPharm graduates’ subsequent involvement in public health activities and their perspectives on how their undergraduate education prepared them for this appears to be lacking. As such, this study aimed

to explore these topics among MPharm graduates. A qualitative approach was adopted on the basis of being well-suited to exploring the range and depth of participants’ perspectives.2 Following institutional isometheptene ethical approval, in-depth digitally recorded telephone interviews were conducted with 22 MPharm graduates working in the UK either as pre-registration pharmacists or registered pharmacists. The sample included participants from three cohorts from one school of pharmacy who were working in a variety of primary and secondary care pharmacy environments to represent as broad a range of views as possible. Participants were recruited by email to those included on the alumni database and by posting messages on social networks such as Facebook, followed by telephone contact with those who replied. The interview guide was developed from the objectives of the study and a review of the literature. Key topics included involvement in local public health activity, barriers to such involvement and their perspectives on how their undergraduate learning experience had prepared them for public health roles in practice. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis.