Selected books (e-books and printed) that were reviewed by Library PTS (Part Time Student Librarian).
Review by Bong Jing Xian
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1. What I like about the book?
First thing would be how it started with a simple index with the link provided for easy access to the information. The content of the book itself is also very direct, being divided into system based contents such as Cardiovascular and Respiratory system. And in each system, it is again sub classified based on different pathological conditions. Most of the conditions are commonly seen in A&E such as acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, unstable angina and acute heart failure. I especially like how the all the information arepresented in point form so that everything is straight to the point, containing all the basics we should know about the conditions.
2. Brief content of the book.
As mentioned above, the book is divided by system based:
• Cardiology
• Respiratory
• Endocrine
• Gastroenterology
• Renal and urology
• Haematology, oncology and infectious diseases
• Neurology and neurosurgery
• Orthopaedics, dermatology and rheumatology
• Surgery
• Clinical biochemistry
Each system contains common pathological conditions. Few aspects of each condition are discussed, being the presentation, diagnosis, immediate management (with contraindications of the managements), causes, brief investigations, complications and differentials. Finally, there are links for further reading after each topic.
3. Does it suit you or any other programs and why?
I feel that it would definitely be suitable for MBBS students, both pre-clinical and clinical years. It would most probably be advantageous for nursing programme students. It is useful for obtaining basic information that is easily understandable, quickly.
4. Would you recommend this book to your colleagues and why?
Yes, I personally think that it is a great tool for practicing history taking, especially in preparation for OSCE. It has all the positive and associated symptoms of each conditions so students would be able to easily recognize the typical presentations. Not only that, as it consists of immediate managements of the condition, students can also brush up on their pharmacology.
Review by Kenneth Yap Chou Hung
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1. What I like about the book?
I personally like this book because of the way they listed out everything in a very precise and organized manner. For every case that they present, they provide simple yet relevant details regarding the case itself. For example, for every examination that they provide such as radiograph imaging, they provide clear images to show the area of concern. Besides that, I also like the differential diagnoses given as it is relevant to our course.
2. Brief content of the book.
The book contains a lot of cases which are divided into 15 categories. They include different varieties of cases such as head and neck pathology, syndromes of the head and neck, oral and maxillofacial radiology, anesthesia, oral and maxillofacial infection and dental implant surgery etc, which are more relevant to the dental course provided in IMU.
3. Does it suit you or any other programs and why?
This book suits me as most of the cases are interesting cases which I can apply my knowledge to. Most books provide the general information of each and every disease but not every disease will appear exactly the same way as described in the book. There will be slight differences and we should know how to recognize them to come to a diagnosis, which are explained in this book.
4. Would you recommend this book to your colleagues and why?
I would recommend this book to my colleagues because this book is a good reference to all sorts of cases that we have never or rarely encountered during our clinical sessions in IMU. The photos, radiograph images, biopsies, assessments and follow-ups that they have given in this book are essential to our learning in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Reviewer’s name: Kenneth Yap
Review by Ow Su Tai
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1. What I like about the book?
This book is filled with extremely condensed information about everything one can think of relating to nutrition and health. Each chapter is beautifully written, backed with proper scientific data, and up to date information regarding that topic as of publication. The book also covers a multitude of major and minor topics in a clear and concise manner. Although the book is filled to the brim with information, it does not feel heavy to read and digest the information contained within. Proper use of the language coupled with a good flow and clear distribution of points help readers of different backgrounds understand what is going on in nutrition and health.
2. Brief content of the book.
The book uses scientific evidence to back up and help expand the information provided within. Apart from covering major issues relating nutrition and health, this book also tries to bring together the links between both areas like diet and cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis. Other areas like gt flora, vegetarianism and phytoprotectants are also discussed within the book. This book also discusses the psychology behind the factors affecting a person’s diet, the role of media, role of health professionals and counselling.
3. Does it suit you or any other programs and why?
As a Nutrition and Dietetics student, I think this book is suitable for those from my program, and also Nutrition students. Information provided within this book is displayed fully and helps readers from courses like medicine, Chinese medicine, pharmacy, psychology, biomedical science and more to understand how each discipline come together in the field of nutrition and health. The scientific data and academic writing contained within this book will also help us improve our skills with regards to understanding difficult literature.
4. Would you recommend this book to your colleagues and why?
Yes, I will recommend this book to my colleagues. This is because I found the book interesting due to its massive amount of scientific data. Each topic within this book is also written by an expert in that area, allowing us to have a better understanding of what is to become of that area. Despite the massive load of information contained within, they are also displayed in an easy to understand manner which helps undergraduate and post graduate students to understand the book better.
Review by Puvaneswari Marappan
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1. What I like about the book?
Noteworthy information on designing and conducting fieldwork projects as well as examining data in various ways for interpretive insight is presented in a brief and precise approach. The book features an extended chapter on qualitative data analysis.
2. Brief content of the book.
The book comprises eight distinctive styles of qualitative writing.
Readers are introduced to the major components of qualitative research. This includes various data collection methods involved in different research designs such as the fundamentals of interviewing, observation. The author provides detailed chapters on the conceptual foundations, coding, analytic memo writing, thematic analysis, assertion development, grounded theory, narrative and poetic inquiry, and ethno dramatic approaches to data.
3. Does it suit you or any other programs and why?
This book is a suitable reference for undergraduate students as well as for graduate students in any research related fields such as education, sociology, psychology, anthropology, human communication, and health care.
4. Would you recommend this book to your colleagues and why?
I would recommend this book to my course mates as well as colleagues as it contains a list of recommended readings in the field, and also additional resources on organizations and associations dedicated to qualitative research.
Review by Tey Yee Qi
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1. What I like about the book?
This book provides concise, straight-to-point facts about pathology. I like that it presents each disease with a case scenario and then followed by a discussion. This structure helps mimic the real-world scenario and can help students frame their mind to think about patients first, disease second.
2. Brief content of the book.
This book covers common pathological diseases from all nine systems of the human body. It provides typical presentations, findings, investigations and also lab results of diseases. The content is revolved around ‘case scenarios’, each case being a different case so that they cover quite a large spectrum of diseases.
3. Does it suit you or any other programs and why?
This book definitely suits medical students because pathology is the gist of medicine. It is useful to be used as a revising material for exams, for it reminds you of the very basic things and does make sense of some concepts that students tend to overlook. As for other programs, I would think this book can benefit Pharmacy students as well, because of the nature of pharmacists to prescribe medications based on the pathogenesis behind a disease.
4. Would you recommend this book to your colleagues and why?
Yes, I would recommend this book to my colleagues. Because this book helps us get the facts straight. The concise yet informative material makes this a good revision book. We can get a global picture of a particular disease in one page, which is definitely a plus for those who are on a time constrain.
Review by Tedd Denis
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1. What I like about the book?
Interestingly, this book covers the issue in a very holistic manner; it discuss the possibilities as well as the type of chronic illness faces by children. Moreover, it also gives an ideas of the ecological factor that might contribute to the children’s health. The book also didn’t leave out the parent’s role in this situation; how they deal and cope with the issue. With that been said, the book are designed for everyone who looking to help families or children with chronic illness; healthcare profession – students, academia, practitioners or even parent whose dealing with the same issue.
2. Brief content of the book.
This book provides a research-based discussion of common childhood chronic illnesses and their etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management. Along with information on specific diseases and conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and arthritis, are chapters on psychosocial management, focusing on family coping, stress on the child, and adherence. This is a rich resource for nurses and other health practitioners looking for an overview of children's chronic illness in an evidence-based context.
3. Does it suit you or any other programs and why?
In my opinion, the book is design for any healthcare profession either practitioner, academia or student, who focusing on children’s health. This book is divided into two part; the first part of the section where the book lay out the major chronic diseases epidemiology, etiology and management, while the second part of the book, it discussed about related issues and cases.
The book covers the issue regarding the children’s chronic illness in a holistic manner, it’s not only discussed the about the potential illness deal by the children but it also provide an ideas about the role of their surrounding, such family consideration, stress and coping strategies for the parents.
4. Would you recommend this book to your colleagues and why?
As a psychology student I would definitely recommend this book to my colleagues because the book does share the ideas regarding the psychosocial of families who dealing with children with chronic illness. The book is able to gives a sense how the ecological aspect of the situation does affect the children’s health and simultaneously the parents as well.
The third year student would definitely benefit most from this because the subject they undergo; health psychology, counselling, etc. As mentioned above, the book is able to gives an understanding on what the families goes through. This type of information able for them to understand the situation and able to give some healthy strategy on coping the situation.
Printed books (reviews are through
i-loc):
Review by Tan Ying Jie
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Review by Toh Ee Syuen
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