Textbook of Family Practice

Abstract

The Textbook of Family has been expanded and completely revised in this third edition. Forty-five percent of the 71 chapters are new titles, and most of the chapters have new authors. The book thus stands as a companion the previous edition. 1 The primary purpose of the text is to assist practicing family physicians in providing [high] quality medical care for their patients (preface). The book is also intended as a reference for family practice residents and students. The work is oriented toward a traditional office practice of family medicine. It consists of six parts: Principles of Family Medicine, Community Medicine, Research in Family Medicine, Communication in Family Medicine, Practice of Family Medicine, and Management of the Practice. Most chapters are coauthored by a family physician and a subspecialist. Discussions tend be clear, concise, and practically oriented yet with adequate theoretical base, but often lacking in thoroughness.