David Miller, University of Glasgow

Just what the doctor ordered for finals I cannot recommend this book enough to final year students. I have just finished my finals and I can categorically say this is everything you need to know to become a very proficient and competent junior doctor. Indeed 5stars does this book a disservice. This is the final year student’s best friend. This text is unique and difficult for me to classify other than describe it as a one stop shop, it is neither a clinical textbook, clinical examination guide nor handbook of medicine but it is quite simply everything a junior doctor needs to know. All the knowledge, background and skills a junior doctor must be proficient in are included from interpreting blood gases and ECGs to writing death certificates all the way through to prescribing and managing sick patients be it surgical, medical, gynaecological even paediatric. In addition there are chapters as wide reaching as medical ethics and law relevant to working as a junior doctor, clinical procedures from chest drains to cardiac pacing, trauma and sepsis on the ward critical care management, presentations in the specialities, palliative care, Mental Health Act and even careers guidance and advice on sick leave to name just a few The layout is no-nonsense down-to-business in clearly delineated colour coded chapters. Pictures and diagrams are carefully placed where they are needed but it is evident care has been taken not to litter the text with illustrations which don’t add to the content. I should also note that at its price it is a downright steal; I can categorically guarantee you will not find such a useful, comprehensive text out there for the same price full stop. The combined content of the oxford handbooks of clinical medicine, clinical surgery and foundation programme don’t even come close to the content of this single manual of everything you could every need to know and practice as a junior doctor. Finally what struck me the most is just how perfectly relevant the content is; it is quite obvious hours upon hours have been spent writing this with painstaking attention to detail in the editing to keep the content lean and as concise as possible. I found that unlike some other books, you don’t find yourself discarding chunks of text as unhelpful or irrelevant; if it’s in this book then you need to know it. As I say, I cannot recommend it enough but please do try it for yourself, pick it up flick through it and you will find the content speaks for itself. You’ll soon agree that this gem of a discovery is worth its weight in gold and mark my words, once you’ve seen it you’ll find yourself hooked.

Posted 9th Mar 2010

Puja Mehta, Imperial College, London

The new 'baby Davidson's' (well that's what I call it anyway) is an excellent portable addition to the Davidson's family, that will serve you well on the wards and in A&E. The big full-sized version is a great reference text to keep on your shelf at home, but this is perfect for learning on the job - to keep you focussed in the clinical setting by providing key points under history, examination and investigations. It is much superior to the faithful oxford handbook, as it is so much easier to read, digest and retain. The layout is just right - the blend of colours, clinical images, bold text, bullet points, tables and diagrams reminds me of why Davidson's is so much more friendly than the rival kumar and clarke. Examples being - the causes of abdominal pain on a diagram divided by quadrants and flow diagrams to manage neutropenic sepsis. There is even a section on everyday life as a junior doctor and gives you tips on how to handle enquires about prognosis, how to write clinic letters, make referrals etc. This is a great book and will make life so much easier...buy it and you'll see what I mean.

Posted 23rd Aug 2009

Michael Wilson, Other

This is a useful text for junior doctors and medical students on clinical attachments. Good logical chapter layout. The chapters on: use of equipment and procedures, interpreting tests and legal and ethical practice are in my opinion the most useful for everyday life as a junior doctor. The book is just about portable size but certainly not pocket size. One to keep in your bag and refer to as and when required (most useful when you are getting the chance to do your first ascitic tap, you can quickly check the basics of the procedure so that you don't look like an idiot when your senior asks you about the basics of the procedure). Overall, I would add this to your 'desirable' list. Not an essential, but when an FY1 it will certainly come in handy time and time again.

Posted 8th Aug 2009

Andrew Batchelder, University of Leicester

This is an excellent book which provides practical information for a great range of topics. Unburdened by excess detail, the content is all "need-to-know" and the text is formatted in a sensible, accessible manner. As such it is ideally suited for senior medical students and foundation doctors.

Posted 16th Jul 2009

Cathryn Walker, Other

An eye catching cover filled with handy stuff well signposted. It has a wipe clean cover and is a size which allows it to be carred with you. Good first section looking at basic skills and principles of patient care. The section section looks at symptoms and related acute presentations, which is a useful way of building up to a diagnosis and what tests might be useful as well as management. I like the break down in the next section of specialities and cancers. Again it is targeted on body areas and problems. The everyday life of a junior doctor is handy, looking at issues on a personal level. I like this text.

Posted 29th Jun 2009

Donna Pilkington, University of Manchester

This is a really great little book. It is a nice portable size with an eye catching front cover. I really like the colour coding of topics and the fact that the book is full colour through-out. The book is very well written in a clear and concise way. It covers all the major topics and is a beautiful companion to Davidsons Medicine. A very worth while book that contains a lot of information in very little space. A god send to medical students and junior doctors a like.

Posted 16th Jun 2009

Alastair Dickson, Other

Review by Alastair J. Dickson, MB BS, L.L.M., M.Sc., B.Sc. (Joint Hons), Dip. Foundation Year 2, N. Cumbria Acute University Hospitals NHS Trust This is an excellent book for the junior doctor. It is clear, crisp and precise with a well-organised layout that covers everything a junior doctor can need to know. It is designed for Foundation Year doctors providing them with a comprehensive, quick reference to any aspect of medicine and surgery that they are likely to encounter. Its chapters on career development, key aspects of health care law, and smart tips on what to and what not to do make the book an invaluable guide for ST1-3 trainees, especially those in GP training. The simple layout of key information using easy, quick reference tables is so simple that you wonder why it hasn’t been done like this before. In summary, brilliant!

Posted 15th Jun 2009

Camille , Other

Few of my colleagues forget the dread with which we faced our first shifts as newly qualified doctors. A text like this would have been helpful to quell our anxieties and revise the management of common acute conditions. It could also be a useful aid to consolidate the masses of complex case-based information gained in the first three months of work. The practical skills covered are well described but are too simplistic for qualified doctors- but this means the book would be useful for medical students, who should be proficient in these by the end of their third year in medical school. Medical students might also find this text helpful in developing their thinking in preparation for clinical practice, which will serve them well when they qualify.

Posted 8th Jun 2009