This new review book for the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) examination appears to be a worthwhile resource for both first time examinees and practitioners preparing for recertification. The book is structured into weighted elements similar to the ABFM exam and consists of single-best answer questions, also similar to the ABFM format. Following each question is a brief explanation and a list of further resources. The accompanying ebook version offers access on a tablet or a computer, anywhere and anytime -- perfect for practitioners on the go! The purpose is to provide a resource for examinees preparing for their ABFM exam. The book includes up to 1,800 multiple-choice, single-best-answer questions weighted and structured similarly to the ABFM exam. Each question is followed by an explanation, which allows examinees to see where they may have gone astray in their answer and to facilitate learning and comprehension, for both the exam and everyday clinical practice. The online/ebook format is similar to the print version, but also allows easier searching, highlighting, bookmarking, interactive question completion, and note-taking. This is the perfect resource for residents studying for their in-training exams, first time ABFM examinees, and busy practicing clinicians preparing for recertification.
The book meets the needs of the intended audience as the questions are set up in a clinical format with single best answers. This allows an examinee to review just one or many questions in a single sitting. The ebook provides users flexibility to quickly review no matter their location -- at home or even on public transit. The author and contributors are family medicine professors, clinicians, and students, primarily from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The book first provides an overview of the ABFM requirements for certification and continuing certification, the ABFM exam and how to prepare for it, and recommendations for test-taking. The largest section pertains to adult medicine and is further broken down in a fashion similar to the weighting of the ABFM exam. Each individual section (i.e.
cardiovascular, pulmonary, etc.) provides objectives/goals for what examinees should have learned in order to be prepared for the exam. The remainder of the book is dedicated to children/adolescents, maternity, mental/community health, emergent/surgical care, and the elderly. Following each question is an explanation of why the answer is correct along with further high-yield additional reading with more in-depth information. One shortcoming is that the explanations do not necessarily discuss why the other answers are wrong. One notable feature that I have not seen in other books is a study grid in the back of the book, which shows examinees how many wrong answers they had for the section and characterizes the testing errors they made. Another strong point of this book is the rich pictorial atlas in the back. Overall, this is an excellent resource to prepare for the ABFM exam.
The combination of the book and the online material facilitates board preparation, wherever and whenever time is available, whether it is a quick 20 minutes or several hours. The content is weighted appropriately, making for an easy transition from preparation to the actual exam. The book helps readers identify their weaknesses and make the most of their study time through the explanations, additional recommended resources, and the study grid that details where they need to continue to focus their efforts and decrease their errors. Overall, this is a great addition to the field and a useful tool to add to a board review toolkit. Weighted Numerical Score: 87 - 3 Stars.