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12 May 2011

Pre-reg Q&As: calculation question - May 12

Directions

The following question consists of a statement in the left hand column followed by a second statement in the right hand column.

Decide whether the first statement is true or false.
Decide whether the second statement is true or false.
 
Then choose:
A. If both statements are true and the second statement is a correct explanation of the first statement.
B. If both statements are true but the second statement is not a correct            explanation of the first statement.
C. If the first statement is true but the second statement is false.
D. If the first statement is false but the second statement is true.
E. If both statements are false.
 
 
Directions summarised
 
First statement
Second statement
 
A
True
True
2nd statement is a correct explanation of the first
B
True
True
2nd statement is not a correct explanation of the first
C
True
False
 
D
False
True
 
E
False
False
 
 

A patient who suffers from perennial rhinitis is going to live abroad for six months (assume 180 days) and wants to take a supply of Flixonase spray to last while he is away. He wants to know whether it will be cheaper for him to get the medication on a private prescription or to buy OTC packs.

The POM version contains 150 sprays per pack and the net price is £11.00. Your private dispensing charge is net price + 20% + £3.60 dispensing fee. The OTC version contains 60 sprays per pack and the retail price is £7.00. The patient uses two sprays daily.
 
First statement
Second statement
It will be cheaper for the patient to buy OTC packs.
 
The price per dose of the POM pack works out higher than that of the OTC pack
 

 

Answer

C

Rationale/calculation


In 180 days, patient will use  2 x 180 = 360 sprays.


To cover this he will need:
POM packs: 3 packs (= 450 sprays, nearest quantity to 360 sprays)
Cost will be: (in £) 3 x 11 = 33 + 6.60 (20%) + 3.60 = £43.20 ≈ 10p/spray  
OTC packs: 6 packs (= 360 sprays) @ £7.00 = £42.00 ≈ 11.7p/spray


The POM packs work out cheaper per spray but the patient will be paying for additional unused sprays, while the OTC packs are more expensive per spray but cost less overall as the exact, lower number of sprays required can be supplied.

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Your Comments
Rebecca Bastable, Pharmacy technician
Posted on 20 May 2011.
Am I missing something? The dose for Flixonase is 2 sprays into each nostril once daily, which means the patient will be using four sprays per day. This means that it will be 4 x 180 = 720 sprays!!!
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Chris Toothill, Locum pharmacist
Posted on 20/05/11 16:37 in reply to Rebecca Bastable.
Is it really suitable to sell 6 packs at once or even 12 packs if the standard dose of 2 sprays daily in each nostril is used.
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Angela SMITH, Community pharmacist
Posted on 11/06/11 16:04 in reply to Rebecca Bastable.
Think....6 months away perennial rhinitis...maintenance dose perhaps....?
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