Family Practice Review: A Problem Oriented Approach

Seymour G. Williams

The third edition of FPR is a comprehensive and relevant guide for reviewing the full spectrum of family medicine. The book is arranged by eight specialty categories presented as case and short answer management of the problems, followed by answers and case summaries. FPR sets out to present a problem-based guide for use throughout the continuum of medical education. Improved performance on medical exams and direct application of essential concepts in the patient care setting are the benefits of this text. This text is written for the undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education years. Primary care practitioners, residents, and medical students seeding a quick and current review will find this book useful. The author's credentials as an adjunct professor in family medicine lend credibility to the text. Although no illustrations are used throughout the text, the problem-based emphasis makes up for this. However, in actual exams many illustrations are used, which would lead one to conclude that the FPR is underillustrated. An adequate number of references is provided after each problem and answer case. Some of the answers in the epidemiology and public health section need to be rechecked. The attractive features of FPR are the creative page layout, the synopsis of essential pearls from each case, and the emphasis on management and comprehensive thinking. FPR is a key text to obtain in preparing for the board examinations and for anyone wanting to pursue medical education from a case-oriented approach. This review guide, although lacking illustrations, covers the full range of family practice. The full discussion of the answers and the emphasis on comprehensivemanagement make up the absence of illustrations. As medical education adjusts to foster a more problem-based and integrated approach, FPR is a commendable effort in this direction.

From The Critics

Reviewer: Seymour G. Williams, MD(Baylor College of Medicine)
Description: The third edition of FPR is a comprehensive and relevant guide for reviewing the full spectrum of family medicine. The book is arranged by eight specialty categories presented as case and short answer management of the problems, followed by answers and case summaries.
Purpose: FPR sets out to present a problem-based guide for use throughout the continuum of medical education. Improved performance on medical exams and direct application of essential concepts in the patient care setting are the benefits of this text.
Audience: This text is written for the undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education years. Primary care practitioners, residents, and medical students seeding a quick and current review will find this book useful. The author's credentials as an adjunct professor in family medicine lend credibility to the text.
Features: Although no illustrations are used throughout the text, the problem-based emphasis makes up for this. However, in actual exams many illustrations are used, which would lead one to conclude that the FPR is underillustrated. An adequate number of references is provided after each problem and answer case. Some of the answers in the epidemiology and public health section need to be rechecked. The attractive features of FPR are the creative page layout, the synopsis of essential pearls from each case, and the emphasis on management and comprehensive thinking.
Assessment: FPR is a key text to obtain in preparing for the board examinations and for anyone wanting to pursue medical education from a case-oriented approach. This review guide, although lacking illustrations, covers the full range of family practice. The full discussion of the answers and the emphasis on comprehensive management make up the absence of illustrations. As medical education adjusts to foster a more problem-based and integrated approach, FPR is a commendable effort in this direction.

3 Stars from Doody