In this digital age is the traditional reference book a thing of the past? Or can it still be useful in modern day general practice?
The new edition of the Oxford Handbook of General Practice is a champion in the battle between hardback and hard drive.
Its compact size makes it the perfect companion not only for the surgery but also for house calls. The logical lay out and referencing makes it as fast (if not at IT meltdown times, faster) than online resources.
It provides an up-to-date and comprehensive guide to current day general practice. New sections include requirements for foundation level doctors and details of the nMRCGP. There is also a new ‘Healthy Living’ chapter which provides useful advice on tackling such hot topics as obesity, drug and alcohol abuse.
Many conditions that affect all age groups may differ for children or the elderly. A superb new feature is the highlight system for these instances. A box with a symbol for the elderly or children draws the reader's attention to relevant differences for the extremes of age. This avoids having to look up different chapters and saves time. Care of the Elderly and Child Health chapters are not compromised however, remaining as extensive as in prior additions.
The symptoms and signs chapter has been removed. This is replaced with a short segment at the start of each chapter which details symptoms and signs relevant to each system. This affords a more streamlined layout.
Finally, this edition retains its tendency to be funny, wise, and have encouraging quotations dotted throughout its pages.
As a comfort blanket for the less experienced it remains unrivalled, but truly, it is a must-have book for all.
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2010.
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