To present easily accessible evidence-based summaries that answer clinical questions about common medical problems. The book covers treatment options for common medical problems seen in general practice. Disease summaries are based on a set of clinically relevant questions that are then answered by data from randomized, controlled trials and systematic reviews. Each chapter consists of clinically important questions, interventions rated for their beneficial or harmful effects, and an excellent set of key messages that summarize the most important points of the chapter. Brief introductory and background information on the disease and in-depth answers for each question follow, including a summary of the best available literature and author comments.
Chapters are well referenced.
This book has an unusual organization that will take getting used to. The list of topics covered is limited, and the choice of clinical questions seems arbitrary. Treatment options, although well summarized, are not encyclopedic, and new or controversial treatments are sometimes not included. Nonetheless, as this book matures with semi-annual revisions and diagnostic issues are added to treatment issues, it is likely to become an extraordinarily useful resource. ACP Journal Club and the Cochrane Collaboration are complementary resources that are updated regularly.