Rating: 
Summary: It is a good book
Review: Hi, I read this book thoroughly and found veryit very useful for usmle step2 and 3,I would recommened this to those who are prepering for these exams.
Rating: 
Summary: Good concept but loads of errors - buyer beware
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Good review, but needs a good editor
Review: I used this book as my primary review source my FP recertification. I certainly picked up some pearls that were on the test, and several others that will help me in practive. However, there were a few areas where incorrect wording was used, and incorrect answers to questions were given. This could very easily throw off someone early in their training. Fortunately, these areas were limited. One persistant problem was essentially everywhere the book mentioned "prevalance", they gave an "incidence". I would still recommend it to anyone studying for FP boards.
Rating: 
Summary: Good extra reading for Step 3
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Review for USMLE STEP-3
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: Worth65
Review: Initially, i was a bit apprehensive in buying the book. But really speaking,It's a book you could use for all the steps ,throughout the preperation of USMLE.
Rating:
Summary: This Edition much different from previous IMHO
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Swanson's Family Practice Review
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Swanson's Family Practice Review
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A CME Rip-off
Review: 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!
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