Following hot on the heels of the Rooks Handbook in Dermatology (click here for the review) comes a publication from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). The book has been written with the intention of helping new doctors becoming speciality registrars in the field of dermatology, so the book starts from that principle - introducing the topic which also makes it of use to other healthcare professionals wishing to enter the field.
What makes this book interesting is that it contains chapters with information not normally found in your average dermatology textbook. For example, the opening chapter looks at undertaking research projects within a clinical role whilst the next chapter covers all the practical aspects of running a busy clinic including managing the team and patients. The next chapter on ethical dilemmas include a range of fictitious cases and provides links to many useful resources and documents.
The next section has a more traditional feel looking at the basics of clinical practice – skin science, taking biopsies (dermatopathology), teledermatology and dermoscopy. The clinical measurement methods chapter covers a whole range of tools used to assess and score the severity of skin disease for a range of diagnoses and assess quality of life. The main section covers all the common and important skin conditions including inflammatory dermatoses, infections and skin cancers. The book also includes a chapter which covers skin disease in skin of colour.
Therapeutics is also given its own section covering all aspects of skin treatments including topical and systemic therapy, skin surgery and wound care. The latter seldom being discussed as part of dermatology but nevertheless essential and a welcome inclusion. Useful additions include cosmetic dermatology and procedures including fillers and laser, for example. The final section covers areas of dermatology known as sub-specialities such as allergy, oral and genital medicine and lymphoedema for example. Each chapter comes with a range of additional resources in the forms of web links to government and NHS policy documents and other information which makes a useful addition to the text. If you are feeling brave, at the end of the book are a range of multiple choice questions covering a range of skin related topics.
All is all, this is not your run of the mill textbook but having read through many of the chapters I would say its real value lies in the fact it starts with the basics and contains good, practical information that perhaps would be hard to glean from traditional textbooks. Combine this book with its price tag, all in all it’s a great addition to the bookshelf in clinic.
Dermatology Training Handbook
Authors: Mahbub M.U. Chowdhury, Tamara W. Griffiths & Andrew Y. Finlay
UK Pricing Kindle (approx £35) & Paperback (approx £37) Blackwell-Wiley
Pages: 444