The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7248 p661
10 May 2003

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Useful calculations practice but better books may be available

'Understanding pharmacy calculations' by Teresa A. O'Sullivan. Pp x+309. Price $39.95. Washington DC: American Pharmaceutical Association; 2002. ISBN 1 58212 033 1

Pharmaceutical calculations are a potential worry for undergraduates, especially at examination time. This book was written by a pharmacy clinician using real life examples to help develop practical calculation skills.

The book is structured into five "lessons", beginning with basic measurements, imperial and metric conversions, setting up calculations and abbreviations. Chapter two is concerned with the expression of amounts and describes unit strength, parts and concentration. The third section outlines compounding problems, including osmolarity and isotonicity, and the fourth chapter explains patient specific dosing in depth. Chapter five goes into great detail about all aspects of total parenteral nutrition. Finally, the book ends with 10 sections of practice calculations along with answers and working.

All concepts encountered are explained from the beginning in a friendly, light-hearted way, and important points are well highlighted. Each individual chapter ends with example calculations and easy to follow working out.

The book is aimed at American pharmacy students although the principles it describes still apply in Britain. On the whole this is useful enough for undergraduates to get lots of calculations practice using realistic examples, but there may be better books available.

Lucy Handley