Pharmaceutical References and Learning Resources
General Reference Information
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada does not endorse any preparatory course material of any kind, 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 taking the Qualifying 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. Compared to other references, one of the limitations of textbooks is the lag time before updated editions appear. It is important for candidates to use current information when preparing for the Qualifying Examination.
Some of the most current information about pharmacy practice in Canada can be found on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) website (www.napra.org). The "NAPRA Model Standards of Practice" further explain and illustrate the NAPRA competencies, which are the basis of the PEBC Qualifying Examination blueprint. Many other useful resources and practice tools can also be found on the NAPRA website. (see Internet Resources- NAPRA)
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 patient care, the Canadian health care system, legal, professional and ethical issues; drug information and critical review of the scientific literature; and commonly seen clinical, therapeutic, 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 (with campuses at the University of Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo); 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 - Bridging Programs section for contact information about these programs. You may also wish to contact the regulatory authority in other provinces for information regarding other assistance or programs for acquiring skills for practice as a pharmacist in Canada.
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 Qualifying Examination. This list covers a wide variety of 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. The content of the Qualifying Examination – Part I and Part II is not based on a particular reference textbook, but rather on the NAPRA competencies as indicated in the examination blueprint. Listings are presented in the following four sections:
• pharmacy review guides,
• pharmacy textbooks,
• 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 following references are examples of textbooks currently being used in Canadian pharmaceutical education programs. Many of these textbooks are available from the university bookstores associated with the various Canadian Pharmacy programmes or other retail booksellers, including online sources. The listings shown first are major textbook references which form the framework for studies in pharmacology, pathophysiology and therapeutics courses.
Applied Therapeutics, The Clinical Use of Drugs, ed. by Koda-Kimble, Young et al, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. (Patient case-based comprehensive reference)
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, ed. by Walker and Whittlesea, Williams and Wilkins. 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.
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, ed. by DiPiro, Talbert, et al, McGraw-Hill Medical.
Handbook of Clinical Drug Data, ed. by Anderson, Knoben and Troutman, McGraw-Hill Medical.
The next 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.
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, ed. by MacKinnon, Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Additional Textbook Listings:
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)
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, by Beer et al, Merck Publications.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics, by Murphy,American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Publication.
Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Principles of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, et by Burton et al, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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.
Contemporary Drug Information: An Evidence-Based Approach, by Gaebelein and Gleason, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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.
The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals, by O’Neil, Merck Publications.
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, by Cipolle, Strand and Morley, McGraw-Hill, Medical.
Communication Skills in Pharmacy Practice, ed. by Tindall, Beardsley, et al, 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.
Pharmacy Ethics, by Smith et al, Pharmaceutical Products Press.
Pharmacoethics A Problem-Based Approach, by Gettman and Arneson, CRC Press.
Ethical Issues in Pharmacy, Weinstein, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Supervision: A Pharmacy Perspective, by Wick, American Pharmacists Association Publications.
Herbal Medicines A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, Barnes, Anderson and Phillipson, Pharmaceutical Press (Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain)
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, ed. by Jellin and Gregory, Pharmacist’s Letter
Boh’s Pharmacy Practice Manual, by Stein, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine, by Greenlaigh, BMJ Publishing Group.
Making Sense of Critical Appraisal, by Ajetunmobi, Arnold Publications
Focus on Safe Medication Practices, Rantucci, Stewart and Stewart, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
On-Line Information Sources
PubMed – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed - free access to primary literature through Medline
Cochrane Collaboration – www.cochrane.org – access to systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions
Subscription-Based Drug Information Databases
Micromedex Healthcare: DRUGDEX – drug information database; POISINDEX – information on drug overdoses and toxicologic exposures
Lexicomp – drug information database
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
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.
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