Customer Reviews

Crush Step 3: The Ultimate USMLE Step 3 Review, 3e

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been studying for the USMLE step 3 since Last May, I have bought a number of review books from nail the board to the recall as well as first aid step 3.

I have nearly completed the USMLEWORLD qbank and been doing kaplan Qbank and at this point, I was tempted to take a look at the so called "throughly updated", Crush step 3, which is false and misleading. They simply changed the coloring and layout of the same book and added a few tables for vaccinations and RA meds!

Its not really updated but they added such as "smoking is the number one modifiable cause of death" instead of older version, which was preventable...

there are many outdated informations and simply incorrect informations but they did not bother to correct it but still claims to be "throughly updated".

PCOS or PCOD, it does not mention the weight loss as one of the first line RX (OCP) and it fails to mention one important modality, which is metformine beside clomiphene if pt desires pregnancy.

And when it comes to viral hepatitis, It fails to mentions the significance of having concurrent hepatitis D with Hep B, means it accelerates the hepatitis B with more aggressive progression. A third year med student knows that hep D is a dependent on Hep B as it mentions. It is same information as Crush step 2.

For Mallory-Weiss tears, it also fails to mention one critical concept that it often self limited and stops bleeding its own but the author says that sclerose any bleeding vessel, of course a third year surgery rotation student knows that if bleeding vessele, it has to be scloerosed!

For Esophageal CA, the author says that adenocarcinoma is now more common than Squamous cell CA, which is incorrect! There is equal incidence of both types of Esophageal CA in the US, and in the worldwide, 90% of the esophageal CA is the Squamous Cell CA. Adenocarcinoma of esophagus is most prevalent in whites and it rarely seen in blacks in the US.

For pseudotumor Cerebri, it says the treatment is "supportive" and weight loss helps, it not repeat LP or shunt. This is incorrect and misleading to say "supportive" when there is serious threat of blindness if the IOP is not lowered by Diuretics acutely and yes, by shunt.

For infant botulism/botulism, the author says the child may need to be intubated and spontaneous recovery so on....but it fails to even mention of monovalent human derived antitoxin treatment for the infantile botulism. The most updated information says that all patients receive antitoxin immune serum to prevent progression and shorten the duration.


For G6PD deficiency, the author says that treat by avoiding precipitating food and medications but this is also expected that a second year med student knows it to stop the precipiationg drugs! it should have mention that treatment also include IV hydration for acute episode and folic acid supplementation as some authors even says lifetime supplements of folic acid for all G6PD deficiency pts.

I found first aid is "better" and more accurate than this longtime overrated book, Yet it is true that there is no such thing as a perfect board review book.

I have been reading "page in a medicine book" series and I found this is surprisingly well written, evidence based and updated..

I used Step 2 Secrets to prepare for Step 2 and thought it was an excellent resource. Crush Step 3, though written by the same author, isn't an adequate resource. Much of what is covered in Crush wasn't on my Step 3 exam and much of what was on my Step 3 exam was material not covered in Crush. I'd look elsewhere.

Very good. I passed the Step. Concise and quick for someone who has very little time.

This is a good book for last few weeks fast review before exam. Most likely you still need another book in multiple question format for additional information.

solid. prolly most of the others are too. at the end of the day, you just need to pick one and do it. i picked this one. did fine.

If you want to pass the USMLE step 3 the first time with no problems, this is the best study guide for it, it helped me so much. Only had to take exam one time. After looking back on it, glad I got this book, without it I would have struggled.

This is a good book for reviewing for Step 3, although I don't see many differences from Crush Step 2. The author of these books also wrote USMLE Step 2 Secrets, which is essentially all the same information but in question/ answer format. Secrets is my favorite of these books.

Good resource to skim in the areas that you need review in (outside your specialty) with key and high yield items emphasized.

Very efficient for Step 2. My Step 1 score was a 210 and I used this + a little First Aid + USMLE World and my Step 2 score went up to a 239/99. I felt like this condensed the essential material really well and I felt much better on test day this time around. I also like that it has some narrative to it unlike First Aid. It makes it a little easier to retain the information. Its also about 1/2 the size of First Aid.. much less intimidating. I don't suggest using it for the shelf exams though unless you are going to supplement with a lot of other things...

The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 was because I bought it used and got in pretty beat up condition. The review was quite good and thorough. It revisits a lot of basic principles and concepts, is fast paced, and has good summary tables and boxes. Very useful.