Greg Pickering, University of Bristol

An extremely thorough and comprehensive textbook covering pretty much every aspect of clinical medicine. Clearly and logically laid out, this book is widely encompassing while maintaining a level of detail relevant to all, from those just starting clinically to the experienced final year student and beyond. This book is also jam packed with detailed and clearly labelled pictures and diagrams, brilliantly complementing the clear, expressive medical text. If this book is to have a flaw then perhaps at times it may find itself labouring a point a little too much and certain chapters go beyond the scope expected of your ‘average’ medical student. To many though this probably isn’t too much of an issue, and adds to the book’s use beyond qualification! Although far from a book for on the wards, it’s a clear winner when wanting to establish, review and further your clinical skills and knowledge during study.

Posted 1st Jul 2008

Lisa Quinn, University of Manchester

There are many textbooks currently on the market covering clinical skills and quite often there is very little to choose between them. However, this book offers a slight advantage in that is covers areas that many clinical skills text books fail to mention: examination of the ear, nose and throat as well as paediatric, gynaecological and obstetric examination. There are also additional sections on the ‘Unconscious patient’ and ‘Major acute trauma injury’ which make interesting reading.
While some chapters offer more detail than found in other clinical books there seems to be a varying degree of depth between each of the sections; for example the respiratory system is not covered in half as much depth as the neurological system. The text, however, remains comprehensive with a generous use of images- both photographic and schematic to help demonstrate examination technique, clinical signs and spot diagnoses.
The entire content of the book is available online when activated on the ‘Studentconsult’ website, which also allows you to utilise the images found in the book e.g. for your own presentations. In addition, it offers a very handy drug database.
Overall, a very good book that covers examination and history technique over an extensive range of specialities in varying degrees of depth.

Posted 1st Jul 2008