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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 Generali and Berger, 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 Shargel, Mutnick 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, by Chandler, Canadian Pharmacists Association. (out-of-print)

Pharmacy Management in Canada, by Bachynsky, 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 Pathologic Basis of Disease, ed. by Kumar, et al, Saunders.

Biochemistry, by Berg et al, W.H. Freeman & Co.

Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, by Martini, Pearson Education.

Human Physiology From Cells to Systems, by Sherwood, Nelson Education Ltd.

Human Molecular Genetics, by Strachan,Garland Publishing.

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

Medical Microbiology & Immunology , Levinson, McGraw-Hill.

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

Pharmaceutical Sciences:

Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, ed. by Brunton et al, McGraw-Hill.

Principles of Medical Pharmacology, ed. by Kalant et al, Saunders Canada

Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology, Rang, Churchill Livingstone.

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

Ansel’s Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, by Allen, Popovich and Ansel., 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.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics, by Rowland, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications, by Crommelin, Sindelar, and Meibohm, Informa Health Care USA Inc.

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, by Zito, CrC Press Llc.

Principles of Biochemical Toxicology, by Timbrell, Informa Healthcare.

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, Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. (A comprehensive, patient case-based reference)

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

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

Handbook of Clinical Drug Data, ed. by Anderson and Knoben, McGraw-Hill.

U.S.P. Dispensing Information (USP DI Drug Reference Guides – 3 volumes), Thomson Micromedex (separate volumes are available in print or Desktop series is available on CD-ROM.)
Vol. 1: Drug Information for the Health Care Professional
Vol. 2: Advice for the Patient
Vol. 3: Approved Drug Products and Legal Requirements (American Legislation)

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.

Principles of Scientific Literature Evaluation Critiquing Clinical Drug Trials, by Ascione, McGraw-Hill.

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, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

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

Pharmaceutical Care Practice: The Clinician’s Guide, by Cipolle, Strand and Morley, McGraw-Hill, Medical.

Communication Skills in Pharmacy Practice: A Practical Guide for Students, ed. by Tindall, Beardsley and Curtiss, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

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

Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Pregnancy and Neonatal Risk, 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, Saunders.

Making Sense of Critical Appraisal, by Ajetunmobi, Arnold.

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

Behavioural, Social and Administrative Pharmacy Sciences:

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

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

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

Introduction to Applied Pharmacoeconomics, by Vogenberg, McGraw-Hill.

Marketing for Pharmacists: Providing and Promoting Professional Services, by Holdford,McGraw-Hill.

Supervision: A Pharmacy Perspective, by Wick, McGraw-Hill.

Pharmacy: An Introduction to the Profession, by Posey, McGraw-Hill.

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

Boh’s Pharmacy Practice Manual: A Guide to the Clinical Experience, by Stein, 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: Practical and Clinical Applications, by Bolton, Informa Healthcare.

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

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

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

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.

Government Websites Helpful For Pharmacy Practice

National Association of Provincial Regulatory Authorities ww.napra.org

Useful links include the following:

Pharmacy Practice and Regulatory Resources
Pharmacy Practice Resources section includes:
Distribution of Medication Samples
Drug Information Resources
Minimizing Medication Errors
Oral Contraceptives for Emergency Contraception
Pharmacy Care Plans

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

Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca

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  - 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 (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)
Narcotic Control Regulations
Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations
Marijuana Medical Access Regulations

MedEffect: Advisories, Warnings and Recalls and Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter, under Health Canada’s “Drugs and Health Products”  , click on “MedEffect”

Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health www.cadth.ca
Useful links include “Common Drug Review” and “Canadian Optimal Medication Prescribing and Utilization Service”

Privacy Legislation – Department of Justice
http://www.laws.justice.gc.ca/www.privcom.gc.ca
See link for Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

Public Health Agency of Canada www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
See link for “Immunization & Vaccines” for Canadian Immunization Guide Seventh Edition - 2006

Some Learning Tools and Other Resources Available on PRA or University websites:

College of Pharmacists of British Columbia www.bcpharmacists.org
On Main Menu:
Resources
Professional Development

Ontario College of Pharmacists www.ocpinfo.com
CE for Pharmacists
Professional Practice

Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association: 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

Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) http://pharmacy.dal.ca/index.php
Resources
Continuing Pharmacy Education

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).  Adding the current year to your search will help to ensure that most recent updates to guidelines are listed at the beginning of your search results.

Some examples include the following:

Hypertension (Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP)) 2009 Recommendations for the Management of Hypertension
CHF (Canadian Cardiovascular Society) 2009 Recommendations on heart failure
Diabetes (Canadian Diabetes Association) 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada
Asthma (Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines)
COPD (Canadian Thoracic Society) 2007 Update 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

Health Canada website (www.hc-sc.gc.ca) – click on Health Concerns and Healthy Living from menu at the left

Public Health Agency of Canada (www.publichealth.gc.ca) - click on Diseases and Conditions from menu at the left

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

US National Library of Medicine – Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov

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.

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)
Go to Quick Links and click on CE, then click on Online Learning Centre

Canadian Healthcare Network (www.canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca)
Provides CE lessons from Pharmacy Practice (now called Drugstore Canada) and other sources
Click on Pharmacists for CE Online

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

rxBriefCase (www.rxbriefcase.com)

PHARMALearn (www.pharmalearn.ualberta.ca)

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

Most 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.