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.
As per the NAPRA competency 4.2, pharmacists are expected to be familiar with the use of a variety of drug information resources and have a working knowledge of which references are useful in specific situations.
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.ca). 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.
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 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 – 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 three 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.
PharmPrep: ASPH’s NAPLEX Review, by Eiland and Ginsburg, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, available as an online/book package.
website: www.ashp.org (click on Store then Student Resources section)
Comprehensive Pharmacy Review, ed. by Shargel 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, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. (Patient case-based comprehensive reference)
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, ed. by Walker and Whittlesea, Churchill Livingstone.
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.
Pharmacotherapy: Principles and Practice, by Chisholm-Burns et al, McGraw-Hill Medical
Clinical Drug Data, ed. by Smith et al, McGraw-Hill.
The next six 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, 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.
Pharmacy Management in Canada, Canadian Pharmacists Association.
Safe and Effective: The Eight Essential Elements of an Optimal Medication-Use System, ed. by MacKinnon, Canadian Pharmacists Association.
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, by Porter, 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.
How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine, by Greenhalgh, BMJ Publishing Group.
Making Sense of Critical Appraisal, by Ajetunmobi, Arnold Publications
Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, The Pharmaceutical Press.
Martindale The Complete Drug Reference, by Sweetman, The Pharmaceutical Press.
Pharmaceutical Calculations, by Ansel, 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.
Pharmacoethics A Problem-Based Approach, by Gettman and Arneson, CRC Press.
Ethical Issues in Pharmacy, Weinstein, Applied Therapeutics.
Supervision: A Pharmacy Perspective, by Wick, American Pharmacists Association Publications.
Herbal Medicines, by Barnes, Pharmaceutical Press.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Therapeutic Research Faculty.
Boh’s Pharmacy Practice Manual, by Stein, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Focus on Safe Medication Practices, Rantucci, Stewart and Stewart, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment, Isaac et al, CAMH Publication.
On-Line Information Sources
PubMed – www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed – free access to primary literature through Medline
Cochrane Library – www.cochrane.org – access to systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions
Rxfiles – www.rxfiles.ca – limited free information is available on-line; access otherwise by subscription
Subscription-Based Drug Information Databases
Micromedex Healthcare: DRUGDEX – drug information database; POISINDEX – information on drug overdoses and toxicologic exposures
Lexicomp – drug information database
Dynamed – evidence-based clinical reference tool
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.
Websites Helpful For Pharmacy Practice:
National Association of Provincial Regulatory Authorities www.napra.ca
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 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
• Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and Regulations (including Precursor Control Regulation)
• Narcotic Control Regulations
• Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations
• Marihuana 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 “Optimal Use”
Privacy Legislation – Department of Justice
https://www.priv.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.
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
Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) https://pharmacy.dal.ca
• 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) 2012 Recommendations for the Management of Hypertension
• Diabetes (Canadian Diabetes Association) 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada
• Asthma (Canadian Thoracic Society) 2010 Asthma Management Guideline
• 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
• 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:
Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) – www.cshp.ca – click on “Publications” – “Statements” are open access but other publications require a membership login
Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) – www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca – click on “Education” or “Tools and Resources”
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) https://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/programs/non-degree-programs/practice (British Columbia)
Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme
www.bredin.ab.ca (Alberta)
International Pharmacy Bridging Program
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 and other sources
• Register for CE Online
Teva Canada (www.tevacanada.com) – Click on Pharmacists, then Continuing Education
rxBriefCase (www.rxbriefcase.com)
Includes links to various CE learning resources, including the Mylan Collaborative Series
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.