1. Hi, this instructional video will show you how to use Saskatchewan’s Therapeutic Drug Guide. This web app can be accessed on any device with internet, such as your desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. It’s not an app in the traditional sense, since it cannot be downloaded from iTunes or the Playstore. Rather, it is accessed using a weblink. This app has a number of useful features to help you in your day-to-day-practice.

2. To get started, type in the web address: sk. tpaguide. ca
To get started, type in the web address: sk.tpaguide.ca. Make sure you don’t put front of it, or it won’t work.

3. To start using the app, you have to authenticate your account, since this app is only accessible to member of the Association. From this page, click “Sign up”.

4. Enter the that the SAO uses to communicate with you and the username and password that you use to access the SAO website. Click “Register”.

5. The SAO administrator will review your credentials and you to notify that you can access the app.

6. Once you receive the notifying that you have successfully registered, you now need to login using your and password that you used to create the account. Click “remember me” and log in.

7. The first time you access the app, you will see a disclaimer
The first time you access the app, you will see a disclaimer. Please read it over, and press “accept”.

8. Once you’ve logged in, here is the home screen of the app
Once you’ve logged in, here is the home screen of the app. There is where you can search by:
Drug name
Drug category and subcategory
Generic availability
Coverage by your provincial drug formulary
Drug format
Pediatric and nursing indicators, and
Preservative-free availability

9. A handy feature of the app is that you can “favourite” your most commonly used drugs. Click on the star to add it to your favourites list. To access your “favourites”, click on the “favourites” button on the left side of the screen. If you change your mind and don’t want it on the list, just click on the star again to remove. To get back to the home page, click here on this icon.

10. To find any drug, just type the name in the first search field
To find any drug, just type the name in the first search field. You can type in either the generic or trade name. I’ll type in Clavulin

11. Here it pulls up the drug I want
Here it pulls up the drug I want. I’ll click on the name to access the drug information.

12. You can view the strengths and formats available, as well as the typical adult dosing. You can also see whether there is a generic available and if the drug is covered by your provincial drug benefit plan.

13. Click on the image to get a more detailed view…

14. Click here to access the Product Monograph…

15. ….and here to access more detailed Alberta Health Drug Benefit Information…

16. If applicable, pediatric dosing guidelines can be found here.

17. If you scroll down, you can also view information relevant to pediatric prescribing and use in pregnancy and nursing. There are clinical notes that can be helpful in prescribing, as well as important information related to drug interactions and adverse effects.

18. If you look at the top of the page, you’ll see the category that Clavulin is in. Click on the subcategory “Penicillins”...

19. …… to pull up all other drugs in that group.

20. Let’s go back to the home page
Let’s go back to the home page. You can use multiple search fields to find a specific drug. For example, let’s say you are looking for a generic combination glaucoma drop that’s on the drug plan. In the product category field, click on “Glaucoma Agents”. Then click on “Combination agents” in the product subcategory field. Click “yes” in the “Generic” field and click “Yes” in the “Benefit” field. Then click on “Search”.

21. This pulls up the options that meet your search criteria.

22. Now let’s say you want to find a topical steroid in a gel formulation
Now let’s say you want to find a topical steroid in a gel formulation. In the product category box, click on “topical anti-inflammatories”, then click “corticosteroids” in the product subcategory box. In the Format(s) box, click on “gel”. Now click “Search” to bring up the drug you want.

23. If you want to prescribe an oral antibiotic that’s compatible with nursing, click on “Antibiotics, oral” in the Product Search box and click on “Compatible” in the Nursing search box

24. If you are sticking to on-label indications and want to find out which dual activity agent is indicated in a child in your chair, click on “anti-allergics: topical” in the Product Category, “Dual Activity Agents” in the Product subcategory box, and say “3 years” in the “Safe for [age] and up…” “Age unit…” boxes.

25. To download the app to your phone to your smartphone, you will need to access ab.tpaguide.ca from your phone’s internet browser. You’ll note that it has a very responsive design and the experience is very similar to using it on your desktop. From an android phone, click on the Menu button on the upper right corner (three little dots) and click on “add to home screen”. Now, when you’re on the home screen, you can click on that icon and it will log you straight into the app, just like other apps on your phone.

26. For iPhone users, go to the Safari webpage and login in the same way, then click on the box with the arrow on the bottom part of the screen. Then click on “Add to Home Screen”. On the Blackberry, press the action key, then tap “Add to Home Screen”. [need a screen shot for blackberry]

27. At SAO, we’re excited to offer this app which is accessible exclusive to AAO members. We hope this app becomes a very useful tool in your day-to-day practice. This app will be continually be updated to include the most current drug information, and will have new features added every year. If you have any suggestions for content and functionality improvements, please (we need a general that doesn’t have “on.ca”.