Understanding GPHC Sample Calculations Webinar - Green Light Campus (Feb 2021)

Understanding the
GPhC Sample Questions – Part 1
SIMON HARRIS NADA IMAME BABIR MALIK
@GL_Campus @greenlightcampus
To find out more about Green Light Campus, including upcoming workshops, click here.
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Q&A box – the best place to ask questions
Introducing…Green Light Campus
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Pharmacy
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@greenlightcampus
@GL_Campus
Meet
The
Team Chao Wang
Clinical Tutor
Tom Byrne
Calculations Tutor
Babir Malik
Quality Assurance
Yinka Kuye
Study Day
Lead Programme Lead
Simon Harris Nada Imame Sadia Qayyum Emma Carter

Head of Education Calculations Tutor Calculations Tutor Clinical Lead
Aim of this evening’s webinar
To help you develop your knowledge and

understanding of pharmaceutical calculations
used in the GPhC Registration Assessment.
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
• Identify gaps in knowledge and understanding with calculations
• Review common errors with calculations
• Discuss methods to avoid common errors
GPhC Exam Framework
• doses and dose regimens • molecular weight
• dosage and unit conversions • using provided formulae
• estimations of kidney function • infusion rates
• displacement volumes & values • pharmacokinetics
• concentrations • health economics

(e.g. expressed as w/v, % or 1 in x)
• dilutions • quantities to supply
The GPhC Registration
Assessment
2021
Essential GPhC resources
to help with your assessment preparation
❑ Registration Assessment Framework
❑ Feedback/Learning Points from Past Exams
❑ Sample Questions from Part 1 and Part 2 (in PV format)
❑ Assessment Instructions
❑ Webinar Recordings
Technique for Online Assessment
o For Part 1, the calculations paper, you will have a multi-sheet wipeable notepad.
o You will not need to wipe out calculations and will be able to look back over them.
o The units will be shown next to the answer box
o Rounding instructions will be stated in the questions
o No commas or spaces allowed i.e. 1000 mg not 1,000 mg
o You can return to a question and change your answer as many times as you like,
before the exam ends
Read every question very carefully - at least twice.
the numbers and other information which you need from the question.
Identify Rule out numbers and information which is NOT required.
the question or your method of calculating the answer.

Don’t and keep the process as simple as possible.
overcomplicate
and use a method you are comfortable with and have practiced
you answered the question that was asked.

Check you used the correct units and number of decimal places in your answer.
your answer makes sense in real life.
Practise and practise and keep on practising!
Q1. ANSWER
Answer: 48%
The child is taking 10 mL qds = 40 mL daily
The suspension contains 3.1 mmol Na/5 mL, therefore in 40 mL there are 24.8 mmol/day
- (3.1 mmol x 8)
RMM of sodium is 23, which means 23 g/mol (or 23 mg/mmol)
Mass = Mr x Moles
Mass (mg) = 23 x 24.8 mmol = 570.4 mg in 40mL
- Convert mg to grams = 0.5704 g
(0.5704 g / 1.2 g) x 100 = 47.533% = 48% GPhC Framework: Molecular weight
Q2. ANSWER
Answer: 134 minutes
Dose = 0.5 g/kg x 24 kg = 12 g.
Immunoglobulin (the drug) is 10% = 10 g/100 mL, therefore there are 12 g in 120 mL
- 120 mL is the total volume which we need to administer
First Infusion Rate = 0.6 mL x 24 kg x 0.5 = 7.2 mL (30 mins only, hence x 0.5)
Second Infusion Rate = 1.2 mL x 24 kg x 0.5 = 14.4 mL
Third Infusion Rate = 2.4 mL x 24 kg x 0.5 = 28.8 mL
Total administered in the first 90 minutes = 50.4 mL (7.2 mL + 14.4 mL + 28.8 mL)
Total volume – volume already given = 120 mL – 50.4 mL = 69.6 mL at a rate of 4 mL/kg
4 mL x 24 kg x X hr = 69.6 mL
X hr = 69.6 mL/96 = 0.725hrs x 60 mins = 43.5 mins + 90mins above = 133.5 mins
= 134 mins to nearest whole minute.
GPhC Framework: Infusion rates
Q3. ANSWER
Answer: 86 mL/hour
Patient requires 1800 kcal daily
Nutrison Energy contains 150 kcal/100 mL, therefore 1800 kcal in 1200 mL.
- (1800 kcal x 100 mL/150 kcal)
Patient needs 1200 mL in 14 hrs, therefore 1200 mL/14 hours = 85.7mL/hr
Round up to 86 mL/hour which is the nearest whole number.
Q4. ANSWER
Answer: 270,000 units
Dose = 300 units/kg = 300 units x 60 kg = 18,000 units daily
18,000 units x 15 days = 270,000 units
GPhC Framework: Dose regimens
Q5. ANSWER
Answer: 84 mL
Dose = 250 micrograms/kg BD, therefore 250 micrograms x 23 kg = 5,750 mcg BD
5,750 mcg = 5.75 mg per dose.
Clobazam suspension available is 10 mg/5 mL, therefore we first need to calculate

how many mL is required per dose, to the nearest whole mL.
- Only then can we accurately calculate the volume required for 2 weeks’ treatment.
If 10 mg in 5 mL, 5.75 mg in 2.875 mL. This is then rounded to 3 mL per dose.
3 mL BD = 6 mL per day, x 14 days = 84 mL
GPhC Framework: Quantity to supply, dose regimen
Q6. ANSWER
Answer: 18 capsules
Body Surface Area (m2) = √ 86 kg x 184 cm/3600 = 2.096558 m 2
Dose = 2.096558 m2 x 30mg = 62.89674 mg daily
Capsules available as 10 mg, therefore round to nearest number = 60 mg daily

(6 capsules)
6 capsules daily x 3 days = 18 capsules
GPhC Framework: Dosage regimen, Quantity to supply, Use of provided formulae
Rounding guidance from GPhC - September 2019
Whilst normal mathematical rules about rounding apply to the registration

assessment, candidates must consider for each question where any rounding
should occur in a pharmacy practice context.
In some questions, the rounding should occur at the end of the calculation, but in
other questions rounding should occur earlier in the calculation.
For example, when calculating the total amount of a medicine that should be
supplied, rounding should occur for an individual dose before calculating a final
amount.
In some questions, specific rounding instructions are provided. For example, a dose
may be rounded to the nearest mL for ease of administration or specific instruction
may be given to round up or round down.
Q7. ANSWER
Answer: 355 tablets
Dose No. of 5 mg tablets No. of days Total number of tablets

50 mg 10 tabs 14 days 140 tabs
5 mg 1 tab 7 days 7 tabs
STOP 455 – 100 = 355 owed
GPhC Framework: Quantity to supply
Q8. ANSWER
Answer: 0.92 mL/hour
Patient is receiving 90 mg/24 hours
The 90 mg is in 22 mL, therefore he receives 22 mL/24 hours
22 mL divided by 24 hours = 0.92 mL/hour
Q9. ANSWER
Answer: 1.8 mL
Dose = 1 mg/kg = 9 mg at night for this 9 kg child
Nitrofurantoin suspension is 25 mg/5 mL, so how many mL for 9 mg?
9 mg x 5 mL/25 mg = 1.8 mL
GPhC Framework: Dose regimen
Q10. ANSWER
Answer: 223 mL
Loading dose is 2.5 mL/kg of ethanol 40% = 2.5 mL x 78 kg = 195 mL of ethanol 40%
The question is asking us how much ethanol 35% would be this be equivalent to.
We have two concentrations and one volume, with one missing volume.
C1 x V1=C2 x V2
40% x 195 mL = 35% x V2
7,800 mL = 35% x V2
V2 = 222.857 mL = 223 mL to nearest whole number
GPhC Framework: Dilutions
Q11. ANSWER
Answer: 4 g
Using the SmPC, we can see there are a range of possible doses depending on the
type of infection.
For bacterial meningitis, the dose is 2 g every 8 hours. This is adjusted in renal
impairment however, so we need to calculate this to confirm the dose.
We are given the patient’s serum creatinine and CrCl formula:
CrCl (mL/min) = (140 – 54 years) x 67 kg x 1.23 = 26.544 mL/min

267micromol/litre
In the SPC, we can see from the renal impairment table the dose should be adjusted
to 2 g every 12 hours, or 4 g daily.
GPhC Framework: Dosage regimen, Resource pack, Renal function
Q12. ANSWER
Answer: £1594.86
The aim is to find the cost saving for 30 days for 114 patients (95% of 120).
Product Cost/30 days Total cost for 114 patients

Combodart caps £19.80 £2257.20
Tamsulosin 400 mcg m/r caps £2.80 £319.20
Dutasteride 500 mcg caps £3.01 £343.14
Cost Saving = £2257.20 – (£319.20 + £343.14) = £1594.86
GPhC Framework: Health economics
Review of
GPhC Sample
Questions
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?
Calculation Resources
✓ GPhC Sample Papers ✓ Mock Exams (GL, Bradford Uni, RPS)
✓ MCQs in Pharmaceutical Calculations ✓ Your tutor, colleagues and friends.

(Ryan Donnelly)
X Be careful with old mock exams and

✓ Pharmacy Registration Assessment online Qs
Questions – Pharmaceutical Press
Advanced Calculations – Sunday 7th March
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/132104081865
Focus on Dilutions – Wednesday 31st March

High Risk Drugs of the CNS – Sunday 11th April

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/139847432435
Focus on Infusion Rates – Wednesday 28th April

Focus on Displacement Values & Volumes – Wednesday 12th May

Focus on Health Economics – Wednesday 2nd June

Any
questions?
Learning Objectives - Revisited
• Identify gaps in knowledge and understanding with calculations
• Review common errors with calculations
• Discuss methods to avoid common errors
Understanding the
GPhC Sample Questions – Part 1
SIMON HARRIS NADA IMAME BABIR MALIK
@GL_Campus @greenlightcampus

Understanding GPHC Sample Calculations Webinar - Green Light Campus (Feb 2021)

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Understanding the

GPhC Sample Questions – Part 1

SIMON HARRIS NADA IMAME BABIR MALIK

Q&A box – the best place to ask questions

Simon Harris Nada Imame Sadia Qayyum Emma Carter

To help you develop your knowledge and

• Identify gaps in knowledge and understanding with calculations

• Review common errors with calculations

• Discuss methods to avoid common errors

• doses and dose regimens • molecular weight

• dosage and unit conversions • using provided formulae

• estimations of kidney function • infusion rates

• displacement volumes & values • pharmacokinetics

• concentrations • health economics

• dilutions • quantities to supply

❑ Registration Assessment Framework

❑ Feedback/Learning Points from Past Exams

❑ Sample Questions from Part 1 and Part 2 (in PV format)

o The units will be shown next to the answer box

o Rounding instructions will be stated in the questions

o No commas or spaces allowed i.e. 1000 mg not 1,000 mg

the question or your method of calculating the answer.

you answered the question that was asked.

Practise and practise and keep on practising!

Patient requires 1800 kcal daily

Patient needs 1200 mL in 14 hrs, therefore 1200 mL/14 hours = 85.7mL/hr

Round up to 86 mL/hour which is the nearest whole number.

GPhC Framework: Infusion rates

Answer: 270,000 units

Dose = 300 units/kg = 300 units x 60 kg = 18,000 units daily

18,000 units x 15 days = 270,000 units

GPhC Framework: Dose regimens

Dose = 250 micrograms/kg BD, therefore 250 micrograms x 23 kg = 5,750 mcg BD

5,750 mcg = 5.75 mg per dose.

Clobazam suspension available is 10 mg/5 mL, therefore we first need to calculate

If 10 mg in 5 mL, 5.75 mg in 2.875 mL. This is then rounded to 3 mL per dose.

3 mL BD = 6 mL per day, x 14 days = 84 mL

GPhC Framework: Quantity to supply, dose regimen

Body Surface Area (m2) = √ 86 kg x 184 cm/3600 = 2.096558 m 2

Dose = 2.096558 m2 x 30mg = 62.89674 mg daily

Capsules available as 10 mg, therefore round to nearest number = 60 mg daily

6 capsules daily x 3 days = 18 capsules

GPhC Framework: Dosage regimen, Quantity to supply, Use of provided formulae

Whilst normal mathematical rules about rounding apply to the registration

Dose No. of 5 mg tablets No. of days Total number of tablets

GPhC Framework: Quantity to supply

Answer: 0.92 mL/hour

Patient is receiving 90 mg/24 hours

The 90 mg is in 22 mL, therefore he receives 22 mL/24 hours

22 mL divided by 24 hours = 0.92 mL/hour

GPhC Framework: Infusion rates

Dose = 1 mg/kg = 9 mg at night for this 9 kg child

Nitrofurantoin suspension is 25 mg/5 mL, so how many mL for 9 mg?

GPhC Framework: Dose regimen

40% x 195 mL = 35% x V2

V2 = 222.857 mL = 223 mL to nearest whole number

GPhC Framework: Dilutions

CrCl (mL/min) = (140 – 54 years) x 67 kg x 1.23 = 26.544 mL/min

GPhC Framework: Dosage regimen, Resource pack, Renal function

Product Cost/30 days Total cost for 114 patients

Cost Saving = £2257.20 – (£319.20 + £343.14) = £1594.86

GPhC Framework: Health economics

✓ MCQs in Pharmaceutical Calculations ✓ Your tutor, colleagues and friends.