Guide — drug calculations
Drug calculation apps:
how to choose the right one
There are several kinds of tool for drug calculations, and they do different jobs. Here is the difference, a checklist for choosing, and where Dos fits if you want to practise.
Three types of tool
Most drug calculation tools fall into one of these three categories.
Calculators
You enter values and get an answer. Good for looking up or double-checking a calculation. They do not train the method, because you do not have to choose the formula or keep track of the units yourself.
Practice apps
You solve questions and get the answers. Good for building the skill before an exam. Quality depends on how closely the questions match what you will meet, and whether you can see where you go wrong.
Textbooks and past papers
The right format and level, but no instant marking and no statistics on how you are progressing. They work best as a complement.
Checklist: how to choose
Ask these questions of any tool you are considering.
Are the questions like the ones you will face?
Questions that match the format and difficulty of your course give the most useful practice. Made-up examples are often easier than what you will meet in an exam.
Do you work it out yourself, with answers afterwards?
If the app does the calculating for you, you do not learn the method. Look for tools where you answer first and then see the correct answer.
Is there a calculator next to the question?
In an exam you work with a calculator. Practising with one beside the question, without switching apps, makes your practice more realistic.
Can you choose the topic?
You gain most by practising where you are weakest, for example dilution or infusion rate. For that you need to be able to pick topics.
Can you see your progress?
Statistics per topic show where you lose marks, so your next practice session can be aimed in the right place.
What does it cost, and what is included?
Check what is included before you decide, so you do not run into limits in the middle of your revision.
Where Dos fits
Dos is a practice app for drug calculations.
Practice tests of ten questions
You work through practice tests of ten questions and see the answer to each one.
You work it out yourself, with the calculator next to the question
You solve the question yourself and submit your answer. A built-in calculator sits next to each question.
Choose topics and follow your statistics
You can practise all topics or pick individual ones, and see your results per topic so you know what to practise more.
Formulas collected in the app
The formulas are collected in one place, so you can look up the tools you need to solve the questions.
Want to test yourself? Free quiz with 10 questions →
Just need to look up a formula? See the formulas →
Frequently asked questions about drug calculation apps
Which app is best for drug calculations?+
It depends on what you need. To look up or check a calculation, a calculator suits you. To practise for an exam, a practice app with exam-style questions, answers and statistics is the better fit. Dos is built for the latter: practising drug calculations.
Is a calculator enough to learn drug calculations?+
No. A calculator gives you the answer but does not train the method. In an exam you have to choose the right formula, keep track of the units and work through the whole calculation, so you need to practise on questions with answers.
Is there a free drug calculation app?+
There are both free and paid tools, and what is included varies. Check the price and what the free version includes before you decide, so you do not discover limits just when you need to practise.
Is Dos available on Android?+
Dos is currently available for iPhone on the App Store. An Android version is on the way.
See whether Dos suits you
Go through the checklist with Dos as the example: practice tests of ten questions, a built-in calculator next to each question, and statistics per topic that show where you are weaker.
