Customer Reviews

Swanson's Family Practice Review

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Several years ago, word was out that this was the book to use for Step 3 review. That may have been the case, but it is no longer. I saw this book was out in a 4th (2001) edition, so assumed it would be up to 2001 standard of care. Unfortunately, each section ends with a couple of references, and most of these were dated from 1992-1996.

When I saw penicillin G recommended as S. pneumonia treatment, my red flag went up (30% of community S. pneumonia isolates were Pen-resistant in 2000), and when I saw cisapride recommended as definitive treatment for heartburn - well, that drug's been off the market for safety reasons for 2 years. So I closed the book - I'm a neurologist, I can't be expected to know what *else* is out of date in here!

I realize that Swanson's multiple choice format is no longer appropriate to the new patient-oriented boards, but I was surprised to discover such out-of-date content, too, in a book ostensibly dated 2001. USMLE Step takers and all other physicians, purchase and read only with great caution - I suggest using a different book.

I have never written an Amazon review but I thought I'd share my reservations about this book that I got to prepare USMLE step 3. As many others have commented, the concept is excellent, the case-questions-summary format really good to facilitate retention of the material. However, I am amazed at the huge number of mistakes that this manuscript contains. Some of the errors are so bizarre that they are unlikely to fool anyone, for example the recommendation to treat hypertension with "betablockers with intracarotid sodium amytal" (!!) (p.26, apparently they mean intrinsic sympathomimetic activity). Others are much more dangerous for your exam and your potential patients, like using "a PTT of 1.2 to 1.5" to monitor warfarin (should be PT or INR, p.35), stating that "one random glucose exceeding 125 mg/dl" defines diabetes (p. 95, should be two), treating status epliepticus with 50 mg dextrose (should be 50%, p.126), saying that "MCV<100" characterizes megaloblasic anemia (should be >100) etc. etc. In the adult medicine section I picked up an error like that every 4 pages or so - so imagine how many I must have missed!
In summary, I think this is a good concept bogged down by what I assume is sloppy proofreading. I would not trust this book to review material I am not very familiar with and I returned the book. I hope they'll do better in the next edition.

For all those who want to be good doctors,i have got a piece of advice which is Buy this book now!!!!.Though this book was written for the family practice review boards this is just as much worth for candidates who are preparing for usmle step 2 and step3.It contains all the basic information as what is done routinely in each and every case starting from the diagnosis to treatment.It covers each and every clincial specalities like medicine,surgery,gyna and obs,psychiatry,ethics and much more.I am preparing for step 3 right now and found this book worth a million dollars.The kind of information i gained from this book is amazing for instance
I always knew that the treatment of myocardial infarction is nitrates,aspirin,thrombolytic therapy and angiographic procedures like angioplasty.But after reading this book i came to know as what is exactly done after acutley treating this patient like you shift him to ICU and do a test for ejection fraction.Before discharging the patient which is usually 4-5 days after inpatient treatment you give the patient a submaximal stress test and ask the patient to come after 4-6 weeks ifthe sub maximal test is negative for the maximal stress test.You can ask the patient to resume his usual activity by 6-8 weeks and sexual intercourse by 4 weeks.
I gained lot of practical information like this.Excellent book!!

Overall the book has a great format. It covers topics well and it is interesting to read -- unlike many others. It addresses why the right answers are right and the wrong answers are wrong for the multiple choice questions. Some books only address the right answers. CAUTION: there are quite a few errors and it is not up to date on many topics. Hormone replacement therapy does not protect from heart disease. Many references are from the late 80s, some from mid to late 90s and occasionally 2000 or later. If the reader has been keeping up with the recent changes in the medical field these errors will be obvious. I still like this book because it is easier and more fun to read than others. If you need this for more than just review and plan to use this to learn family practice -- get a different book. Be very cautious of those other reviewers that gave this book 5 stars.

Is it just me? I have used this book from it s first edition to study for boards. I see it is now "owned" by Kaplan and I see a noticeable change now that the primary author/editor (Dr Swanson) is dead and others have attempted to continue his work. It seems to me this edition is very "muddy" and unclear with many questions. Also seems at times to be overly concerned with minutae rather than concepts. I thought it was just me but heard the same from friends and others at a recent AAFP review. I suggest you look at Bratton's "Family Practice Board Review" if you are looking for something that approximates the excellence of the previous Swanson editions. Hopefully Kaplan will get its act together for the next edition.

the 5th edition of Swanson's Family Practice Review (published in 2005) has corrected out of date information mentioned in previous reviews (specifically, treatment of strep pneumococcal pneumonia and GERD; incorporates seventh report of Joint National Committee on High Blood Pressure). It also has a registration form for up to 79.5 CME credits (available from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007).

Potential buyer's of this review book should be aware that it was published in 2000 and is seriously out-of date.

I thought that the advertised web site would make up for that deficiency by being more up to date . . . it is not.

Most disturbingly, the advertised "75 hours in Category 1 CEM credits" are simply not available. When I sent in my check to register for these credits, it was returned "address unknown."

Stay away from this rip-off!

If I could rate this book higher, I would. Although written for the Family Practice Boards it was an excellent review for USMLE STEP-3. All the areas that are presented appear on the USMLE exam. Of course one will have to suppliment this book with other sources, but not much. It was particularly helpful with the accompanying questions. It seems like alot of pages to read, but the style makes it fast reading, and consequently comprehension. If you have limited time, funds, even medical knowledge--this is the one book to purchase

This 4th edition of Swanson's Family Practice Review was published in 2000 and because of the rapid advances in 21st century medicine contains outdated information that may no longer be correct. It has been replaced by a 5th edition that was completed rewritten.

I used this book for USMLE step 3. Its a very comprehensive book with detailed answers and explanations. Its a good book to practice MCQs and provide good coverage of the topics included, but by no means has comprehensive coverage of the topics required to prepare for USMLE step 3. So make sure if you are using it for step 3 then complement with at least one other book providing a comprehensive review of the relevent topics. Overall authors must be congragulated for compiling this text book.