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The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada

The Pharmacist Evaluating Examination
Pharmaceutical References and Learning Resources Latest Edition

General Reference Information

The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada does not endorse any preparatory course of any kind whatsoever, and any pretence by an individual or group in making such a claim is liable to legal prosecution.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to utilize suitable reference materials and other resources in preparation for the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination. You should identify your personal learning needs in accordance with the examination blueprint (and consideration, if applicable, of feedback from any previous examination attempt).

It is important for practising pharmacists to continually stay up to date with therapeutics and clinical guidelines and other pharmacy practice issues. This includes staying current as new developments reach practice and the workplace. It is important for candidates to use current information (including most current textbook editions) when preparing for the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination.

From time to time, additional reference and learning resource suggestions may appear on the PEBC website.

In addition to your university education and personal learning, the ideal tool for acquiring Canadian pharmacy practice skills is to undertake "hands on" practice experience working in a Canadian pharmacy setting with direct patient care services. Practice experience will offer insights into the role of the pharmacist in Pharmaceutical Care practice, the Canadian health system, legal, professional and ethical issues, and commonly seen clinical therapeutics, technical and other practice scenarios.

There are a number of structured, preparatory “bridging” programs currently available in Canada, including: the International Pharmacy Graduate (IPG) Program in Ontario at the University of Toronto; the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme in British Columbia (at the University of British Columbia Point Grey Campus) and the International Pharmacy Bridging Program in Alberta (Bredin Institute in Edmonton). Please refer to the Internet Resources section below for contact information about these programs. You may also wish to contact the regulatory authorities in other provinces for information regarding other assistance or programs for acquiring skills for practice as a pharmacist in Canada.

Reference Listings

The following listings are intended as a general guide and cover a variety of topics and may be helpful to you as you prepare to take the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination. This list covers a wide variety of pharmaceutical topics, but it is NOT intended to serve as a detailed syllabus nor should it be assumed that these resources are the source of examination questions. Listings are presented in the following four sections:
pharmacy review guides,
pharmacy textbooks,
federal legislation and
internet resources.

Pharmacy Review Guides

These four American pharmacy review guides are comprehensive subject reviews containing a large number of multiple-choice questions, covering many subject areas related to pharmaceutical education and pharmacy practice issues. Note that drug names and units of measure may be different in Canada. Federal law review questions must be avoided as they are based on American legislation, not Canadian.

Appleton and Lange Review of Pharmacy, by Hall and Reiss, McGraw-Hill Medical.

Appleton and Lange’s Quick Review Pharmacy, by Berger and Generali, McGraw-Hill Medical.

ASHP’s PharmPrep: Interactive Case-based Board Review, by Ginsburg, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, available in print or CD-ROM (240 cases and over 2500 sample questions)
website: www.ashp.org (click on Bookstore then Student Resources section).

Comprehensive Pharmacy Review, ed. by Mutnick, Shargel et al, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmacy Textbooks (current editions)

The first eight listings are all textbooks published by The Canadian Pharmacists Association, Ottawa, ON (www.pharmacists.ca) and may be ordered by phone: 1-800-917-9489 (Canada only) or 613-523-7877.

Therapeutic Choices, ed. by Gray, Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Self Care Two-volume set
1) Patient Self-Care (PSC) Helping Patients Make Therapeutic Choices, Canadian Pharmacists Association.

2) Compendium of Self-Care Products (CSCP), Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS), Canadian Pharmacists Association. Useful overview information is found on the front page “CPS At a Glance” and by checking the “Table of Contents” listing of information sections and topics.

Guide to Drugs in Canada, ed. by Raman-Wilms, Canadian Pharmacists Association. (This is a home reference guide to help patients with taking medications.)

Herbs Everyday Reference for Health Professionals, ed. by Chandler, Canadian Pharmacists Association. (out-of-print)

Pharmacy Management in Canada, ed. by Bachynsky and Segal, Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Safe and Effective: The Eight Essential Elements of an Optimal Medication-Use System, ed. by MacKinnon, Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Seamless Care: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Providing Continuous Care Programs, MacKinnon, Canadian Pharmacists Association.

Additional Textbook Listings            

The listings shown here are major textbook references which form the framework for many of the Canadian undergraduate pharmacy programs. Some of the references are also used by practicing pharmacists in their various workplace settings. For your easy reference to search out a reference in a particular subject, the titles are organized under the headings of the four major subject areas of the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination Blueprint.

Biomedical Sciences:

Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, ed. by DiPiro, Talbert, et al, McGraw-Hill Medical.

Robbins & Cotran’s Pathologic Basis of Disease, ed. by Cotran, Kumar, Robbins, Saunders.

Biochemistry, Berg, W.H. Freeman & Co.

Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, by Martin, Prentice Hall.

Human Physiology From Cell to Systems, by Sherwood, West Publishing Co.

Human Molecular Genetics, by Strachan and Read, John Wiley and Sons Inc.

Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, ed. by Brooks, Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill.

Medical Microbiology & Immunology (Examination & Board Review), Levinson and Jawetz, Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill.

Tietz’s Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry, ed. by Burtis, W.B. Saunders.

Pharmaceutical Sciences:

The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, ed. by Goodman and Gilman, McGraw-Hill.

Principles of Medical Pharmacology, ed. by Kalant and Roschlau, B.C. Decker Inc.

Pharmacology, Rang, Dale, Ritter and Gardner, Churchill Livingstone.

Foye’s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, ed. by Williams and Lemke, Lippincott Williams and Wilkens.

Wilson and Gisvold’s Textbook of Organic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ed. by Block and Beale, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Martin’s Physical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, by Sinko, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, by Ansel, Popovich and Allen Jr., Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmaceutics-The Science of Dosage Form Design, by Aulton, Churchill Livingstone.

Applied Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, by Shargel, Wu-Pong and Yu, McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics, by Rowland, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: An Introduction for Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists, by Crommelin, Crommelin and Robert Sindelar, Harwood Academic Publishers.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, by Zito, Technomic Publishing Co. Inc.

Principles of Biochemical Toxicology, by Timbrell, Taylor & Francis.

Goldfrank’s Manual of Toxicologic Emergencies, by Hoffman, Nelson, Howland, Lewin, Flomenbaum, Goldfrank, McGraw-Hill.

Pharmacy Practice:

Applied Therapeutics, The Clinical Use of Drugs, ed. by Koda-Kimble and Young, et al, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. (A comprehensive, patient case-based reference)

Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, ed. by Herfindal and Hirschman, Williams and Wilkins. (Workbook for Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics also available)

Handbook of Clinical Drug Data, ed. by Knoben and Anderson, Drug Intelligence Publications, Inc.

Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, ed. by Walker and Edwards, Churchill Livingstone

U.S.P. Dispensing Information (USP DI Drug Reference Guides – 3 volumes), Micromedex Thomson Healthcare Inc. (separate volumes are available in print or Desktop series is available on CD-ROM.)
Vol. 1: DrugPoints
Vol. 2: Detailed Drug Information for the Consumer
Vol. 3: Approved Drug Products and Legal Requirements (US)

Hansten and Horn’s Drug Interactions Analysis and Management, by Hansten and Horn, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Drug Information: A Guide for Pharmacists, by Malone, Kier and Stanovich, McGraw-Hill Medical.

Principles of Scientific Literature Evaluation Critiquing Clinical Drug Trials, by Ascione, American Pharmacists Association Publications.

Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Martindale The Complete Drug Reference, by Sweetman, The Pharmaceutical Press.

Pharmaceutical Calculations, by Ansel and Stoklosa, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmaceutical Calculations The Pharmacist's Handbook, by Ansel and Prince, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmaceutical Care Practice, by Cipolle, Strand and Morley, McGraw-Hill, Medical.

Communication Skills in Pharmacy Practice, ed. by Tindall, Beardsley, Curtiss, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmacists Talking with Patients, by Rantucci, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation, by Briggs et al, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Herbal Medicines A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, by Barnes, Anderson and Phillipson, Pharmaceutical Press (Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain).

The Language of Medicine, by Chabner, WB Saunders.

Making Sense of Critical Appraisal, by Ajetunmobi, Hodder Education Group.

Focus on Safe Medication Practices, Rantucci, Stewart and Stewart, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Behavioural, Social and Administrative Pharmacy Sciences:

Pharmacoepidemiology: Principles for Practice, Waning, McGraw-Hill.

Principles of Pharmacoeconomics, by Bootman, Townsend and McGhan, Harvey Books.

Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes: Applications for Patient Care, American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Introduction to Applied Pharmacoeconomics, by Vogenberg, McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division.

Marketing for Pharmacists, by Holdford, American Pharmaceutical Association Publications.

Supervision: A Pharmacy Perspective, by Wick, American Pharmaceutical Association Publications.

Pharmacy: An Introduction to the Profession, by Posey, American Pharmacists Association.

A Practical Guide to Contemporary Pharmacy Practice, by Thompson and L. Davidow, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmacy Practice Manual, ed. by Boh and Young, Lippincot, Williams and Wilkins

Pharmaceutical Care in Community Pharmacies: Practice and Research in Canada. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2005; 39: 1527-33, by Jones, MacKinnon, Tsuyuki (www.theannals.com).

Public Health and Preventative Medicine in Canada, by Shah, Elsevier.

Pharmaceutical Statistics, by Bolton, M. Dekker Media Publishing.

Pharmacy Ethics, by Smith et al, Pharmaceutical Products Press.

Pharmacoethics A Problem-Based Approach, by Gettman and Arneson, CRC Press.

Ethical Issues in Pharmacy, by Weinstein, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Federal Legislation

Federal legislation, which governs the Drugs Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme of Health Canada's HECS "Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety" directorate, includes the following acts and regulations which pertain to pharmacy practice in Canada:

Canada Health Act
Food and Drugs Act and Regulations (with sections relating to prescription and nonprescription drugs and controlled substances), and Schedules (including Schedule G- Controlled Drugs)
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and Regulations (including Precursor Control Regulation)
Narcotics Control Regulations
Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations
Marijuana Medical Access Regulations

Internet Resources

The following listings include a selection of websites with specific kinds of information such as current legislation, pharmacy practice resources, and other timely topics which are useful to practising pharmacists and those who are seeking licensure as pharmacists in Canada. Note that provincial regulatory authorities other than those listed may offer similar resources that you can access.

Health Canada

www.hc-sc.gc.ca

From menu at left, click on “Health Care System”, then click on the link for: Canada’s Health Care system: Canada Health Act information.

From main page, use the search button at the top to find information on:
Food and Drugs Act and Regulations
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996) and Regulations
Narcotic Control Regulations
Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations
MedEffect: Advisories, Warnings and Recalls, under Health Canada’s Drugs and Health Products www.hc-sc.gc.ca - click on “Drugs and Health Products” and then click on “MedEffect”
PIPEDA: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act www.privcom.gc.ca - look for print version link
Common Drug Review Directorate under Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (formerly CCOHTA, Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment) www.cadth.ca

National Association of Provincial Regulatory Authorities

www.napra.org

Useful links include the following:

Pharmacy Practice
Pharmacy Practice Resources section
Model Standards of Practice
Pharmaceutical Care Plans
Emergency Contraception
Drug Information Resources
Minimizing Medication Errors

Practice Information section (includes Alphabetized listing of relevant current practice topics)

Federal Drug Legislation (and recent changes)
National Drug Schedules (I, II and III)
Licensing/Registration

Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA)

www.pharmacists.ca

Go to Quick links and click on CE,
Select CPhA Professional Advancement, then click on Online Learning Centre

Some Learning Tools Available on PRA or University websites:

College of Pharmacists of British Columbia

www.bcpharmacists.org

Go to Pharmacy and click on Professional Development and then click on Learning Toolkit

Learning Tool Kit: 
 Resource Guide for Pharmacists (includes a comprehensive list of Internet sites)
 CPS Overview

Ontario College of Pharmacists

www.ocpinfo.com

CE for Pharmacists
Professional Practice
Continuing Competency

Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association website:

www.mpha.mb.ca/resources.htm

It includes the following categories of learning resources and links:

 Drug information
 Medical Literature Databases
 PDA Resources
 Patient Safety Resources
 Senior Health Resources
 Journals available online: Pharmacy Medicine

Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia):

http://dir.pharmacy.dal.ca/index.html

Please visit websites regularly, for updates and corrections.

For Suggestions for Clinical Practice Guidelines:

To obtain up to date evidence-based information designed to assist in patient care decisions for the management of specific disease states, you may search, using your Internet browser, for "Canadian Consensus Guidelines" or "Clinical Practice Guidelines" and narrow the search by selecting a specific disease state, e.g.:

Some examples include the following:
Hypertension (Canadian Hypertension Education Program (HEP)) 2008 Recommendations for the Management of Hypertension)
CHF (Canadian Cardiovascular Society) 2008 Recommendations on heart failure
Diabetes (Canadian Diabetes Association) 2003 (Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada, 2003
Asthma (Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines)
COPD (Canadian Thoracic Society) 2008 Recommendations for the Management of COPD
Additional:
The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) website (www.cmaj.ca) offers other clinical practice guidelines and information on a variety of disease topics, e.g. dyslipidemia; osteoporosis)
COPD (Canadian Consensus Guidelines, Canadian Thoracic Society)

Health Canada web site (www.hc-sc.gc.ca) – click on “Diseases and Conditions” from menu at the left

Public Health Agency of Canada (www.publichealth.gc.ca) - click on Adults from menu at the right

Other:

Developing Pharmacy Practice: A Focus on Patient Care
www.who.int/medicines/publications/WHO_PSM_PAR_2006.5.pdf (content topics include Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmacy practice trends, Drug Information and literature appraisal, and Phamacoeconomic analysis)

Institute for Safe Medication Practices
www.ismp.org click on “Medication Safety Tools and Resources” section

National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention
www.nccmerp.org

For Information about International Pharmacy Graduate “bridging” programs:

www.ipgcanada.ca (Ontario)
Canadian Pharmacy Skills
Enhanced Language Program

www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/cp3/index.html (British Columbia)
Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme

www.bredin.ab.ca (Alberta)
International Pharmacy Bridging Program

From time to time, additional links may be updated on the PEBC website: (www.pebc.ca)

For Information about Continuing Education (CE) Learning

Continuing Education in Pharmacy in Canada is coordinated by CCCEP: the Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy. CCCEP-approved learning programs are available from a wide variety of sources. Some of these include the following:

Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) (www.pharmacists.ca) Under Pharmacists, click on Resource Centre, then Continuing Education Centre, then Online Learning Centre.

Pharmacy Gateway (www.pharmacygateway.ca) Pharmacy Gateway provides CE lessons from Pharmacy Practice (now called Drugstore Canada) and Pharmacy Post publications and other sources. Click on Continuing Education, then CE Online.

Teva Novopharm (www.novopharm.com) Click on Professional Development, then Continuing Education for Pharmacists.

RXBriefCase (www.rxbriefcase.com)

PHARMALearn (www.pharmalearn.ualberta.ca)

rx Passport (www.rxpassport.ca) This website includes links to various CE learning resources, including Pharmacy Gateway and rxBriefCase.

Provincial Regulatory Authorities Provincial Regulatory Authorities (PRAs) and the schools of Pharmacy within Canadian universities offer information and access to other CE learning opportunities.

Most of CE learning modules are designed to enhance individual knowledge in Therapeutics and Disease State Management. When choosing to self-study with CCEPP-approved CE learning modules, it is important for a candidate to self-assess the wide range of available disease state and therapeutics topics and make selections to ensure that:
1) individual gaps in knowledge will be addressed, and 2) disease topics reflect those seen most frequently in patient care practice settings, as well as those where drug therapy plays an important and critical role in patient care outcomes.