Registration Assessments in 2015

Practice questions: issued April 2015

This set contains 10 practice questions.

Questions 1 to 5 are examples of questions from Open Book papers. The references
that may be used are British National Formulary 69 March 2015 to September 2015
and BNF for Children 2014-2015.

Questions 1 to 3 may require the use of a summary of product characteristics which

would be provided in the assessment.

Questions 6 to 10 are examples of Closed Book questions.

There are 4 types of questions used in the Registration Assessment. Further

information on question types and the structure of the assessment papers can be
found in the pre-registration training manual.

Copyright General Pharmaceutical Council 2015.

The content of this document is the property of the General Pharmaceutical Council and
may not be reproduced

Directions for questions 1 to 3. These questions are followed by five suggested answers.
Select the best answer in each case.
Questions 1 to 3 concern Mr A, a 54-year-old man, who has asthma. Mr A has just
come from an asthma review with the practice nurse at the GP surgery he attends.
He has been having a few issues with his combination inhaler and has now been
prescribed Relvar Ellipta for the first time. He presents in the pharmacy with his new
prescription. Mr A is now on the following medication:

Relvar Ellipta 184/22 micrograms 1 inhalation once daily

Salbutamol 100 microgram inhaler 2 puffs as required
Nuelin SA (theophylline) m/r tablets 175 mg twice a day

The summary of product characteristics for Relvar Ellipta 184/22 micrograms would
be provided in the assessment and can be accessed here
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/28495

1. (open
book)

2. (open
book)

On reviewing Mr As medication, you conclude that he is being treated

at which step of the British Thoracic Society guidelines for the
management of chronic asthma?
A

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

You counsel Mr A on the use of his new Relvar Ellipta inhaler. Which
one of the following is true?
A

the inhaler should be discarded 4 weeks after it has been

removed from its tray

the inhaler should be shaken prior to use

when inhaling a dose, Mr A should take a hard fast breath in to

activate the device

Relvar Ellipta can be used to treat acute asthma symptoms

Mr A should take care not to block the air vents on the device
when breathing in
2

3.(open
book)

Mr A requests some information about the side effects of Relvar

Ellipta. Which one of the following side effects is likely to occur in
between 1 and 10 % of patients using Relvar Ellipta for the treatment
of asthma?
A

fractures

headache

nasopharyngitis

sinusitis

urticaria

Directions for questions 4 and 5. Each of the questions or incomplete statements in this
section is followed by three responses. For each question ONE or MORE of the responses
is/are correct. Decide which of the responses is/are correct. Then choose:
A

if 1, 2 and 3 are correct

if 1 and 2 only are correct

if 2 and 3 only are correct

if 1 only is correct

if 3 only is correct
Directions Summarised
A
1, 2, 3

4. (open
book)

5. (open
book)

B
1, 2
only

C
2, 3
only

D
1
only

E
3
only

Which of the following levels would be a cause for concern in a

healthy adult?
1

serum glucose 6 mmol/L

serum potassium 4.2 mmol/L

haemoglobin 68 g/L

Mrs R presents in your pharmacy with a prescription for varenicline tablets

to aid smoking cessation. Which of the following is/are correct?
1

Mrs R should be advised to discontinue varenicline and seek medical advice

if she becomes depressed

Mrs R should start varenicline 1 2 weeks before her target stop date

varenicline may cause taste disturbance

Directions for questions 6 to 10. For each numbered question select from the list above it
the one lettered option which is most closely related to it. Within each group of questions
each lettered option may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
Questions 6 to 10 (closed book) concern the following drugs:

ibuprofen

oxycodone

paracetamol

pregabalin

tramadol

Select, from A to E, which one of the above is most likely to cause:

6.

acute kidney injury

7.

serotonin syndrome when given in combination with an SSRI

8.

reduced excretion of lithium leading to an increased risk of toxicity when given

concurrently

9.

an increased risk of thrombotic events, particularly if used long term

10.

respiratory depression