Part of the Illustrated Color Text series, this highly visual and concise textbook presents topics in clinical medicine and related areas that will likely be encountered in general practice. Taking an evidence-based approach, this atlas-style resource discusses the differences between general practice and hospital-based care. Featuring an accessible presentation of material with a double-page spread for each topic, it also makes use of dynamic color for both clinical photographs and graphics.

Part of the Illustrated Colour Text (ICT) series, this volume presents important topics in clinical medicine and related areas, as they will be experienced in the primary care/general practice setting. Emphasis is given to the importance of an evidence-based approach. It aims to: familiarize students with the context of general practice and how it differs from hospital-based care; give students a simple, general overview of clinical work carried out in the primary care/general practice setting; give students a framework for learning form general practice and to alert them to relevant opportunity for learning; and fill in gaps in clinical knowledge which are not adequately covered in many textbooks of medicine, which tend to be hospital-orientated in their approach. The topics are discussed on brief double-page spreads, using boxes, tables and line drawings.

• SECTION 1: GENERAL PRACTICE IN PERSPECTIVE - Overview and philosophy of general practice - Importance and relevance of primary care - Models of health care - International comparisons - Resources and needs SECTION 2: WORKING WITH PEOPLE - Duties of the doctor - Professional etiquette and ethics - Clinical method, the consultation SECTION 3: WORKING WITH POPULATIONS - Records and demography - The family and society - Audit and quality control SECTION 4: PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION - Risk factors - General principles-definition, models, and examples SECTION 5: COMMON ACUTE HEALTH PROBLEMS - Introduction - Common acute problems, an overview - Profile of acute problems in children and adolescents - Profile of acute problems in adult and middle years - Profile of acute problems in the elderly SECTION 6: COMMON CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS - Asthma - Diabetes - Hypertension - Anxiety and depression - Heart disease - Arthritis - Backache - Chronic skin disorders - Urinary problems - Epilepsy - Migraine and chronic headache - Chronic GI disorders - At risk families - Dysfunctional families SECTION 7: SPECIAL TOPICS - Prescribing - Primary-secondary care interface - Community care - Alternative therapies - Genetics - Role of primary health care in social, environmental, and occupational health - Research in primary care

Presentation of this A4 sized book is first class with plenty of bullet pointed information in coloured boxes, easy-to-understand graphs and good quality colour photographs - all very easy on the eye.
In summary then, the book is an excellent introduction and overview of modern General Practice which helps the reader talk the talk before they actually walk the walk. Dr J M Sager (GP Leeds), Medix-UK website, October 2003
easy to read...a handy overview not only of the disease met in General Practice but of the broader picture of community medicine. 5th Year Medical Student, Liverpool University, December 2003
layout is neat, containing plenty of key point tables and diagrams, and is overall extremely easy to read.
Where the book shines is in the other sections where the diverse nature of GP practice is reflected in the topics covered ranging from GP consultation skills, how General Practice is organised and health promotion in the community. 5th Year Medic, Sphincter - Liverpool University Medical Magazine, December 2003