Friday, March 30, 2007

MRCP & MRCS free exam questions

For those who are preparing for the MRCP or MRCS, there are some free resources developed by doctors to help others to pass the exams.

MRCP free questions :

MRCP.org provides an exam guide on how to revise for and pass MRCP and
free MCQs and BOFs for MRCP 1 & 2 - "the biggest and best selection of MCQs and BOFs"

Neurology4mrcp group provides free MCQs & BOFs in PDF format and are free to download, updated at regular intervals. Also check the useful links on "what to read for MRCP".

PassPACES.com is independent and privately funded website with the aim of helping fellow doctors to pass their MRCP PACES examination. It provides free MRCP PACES tutorial and other useful information.

AIPPG provides free MRCP mock tests

There are also commercial websites that offer online courses by personal subscriptions.
Onexamination.com

PasTest Online

123Doc

Medexam.net - the first 200 questions are free for all users


MRCS free questions :

mrcs.org provides tips for MRCS part 1 and 2 training

Clinical Tutor - provides interactive MCQs and a MCQ question database etc. , registration is required.

Surgical-tutor.org.uk - provides a bank of resources from journal club, MCQs, revision notes etc.

Webhealthcentre.com - the Student Centre has a large bank of MCQs free to all registered users.

Fleshandbones.com - this site provides study tips and an image bank, also MCQ database in many subjects with answers ( located in the Revision Center). Need to register to gain access to the free resources.

Surgeons.org.uk - a free educational website with MCQs and surgical turorials etc. Need registration to gain access the material

Tips and advices from BMJ Careers :

Is it mandatory to complete 3 parts of the MRCP exam in order to be able to apply for an SHO post in dermatology or would MRCP part 1 be enough

How to pass MRCP

Preparing for MRCP part 1

Comments on the usefulness of these resources would be helpful to other users.

Health News

A leading health economist has proposed 2% cut of GPs' or consultants' annual salary.

NHS surgeons to get war training for gun crime victims

Taking low or moderate doses of aspirin could reduce women's risk of dying early, but UK experts warned aspirin could cause bleeding.

Cutting junior doctors' working hours will not reduce fatigue and the risk of errors on its own.

Supermarkets and other private business and GPs to bid for contracts to host health services

BZP drugs, said to offer legal alternative to hard drugs, may cause health problem

Doctors must involve in budget decisions

Children with congenital heart failure may be at risk from discrepancies in doses of captopril tablets

The government has failed on out-of-hours care, only GPs had benefited from the new arrangements.

Weight loss surgery could lead to memory loss.

Bodies needed for undergraduate medical training.

Palliative Medicine articles address the misconception that morphine is a lethal drug and a common cause of death when used to control symptoms in the dying.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

If you are authors or readers of the Lancet....

The J of Royal Society of Medicine (JRSM) published an editorial "Reed-Elsevier's hypocrisy in selling arms and health" on its website calling authors and readers work together to take the lead in preventing the sales of arms.

The Lancet, a leading medical journal, is owned by Reed Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of scientific and medical journals, that also publishes 2000 other medical and scientific journals. One of its subsidiary runs international arms fairs, the same subsidiary also runs Lancet conferences.

The Lancet published a letter in 2005 saying that Reed Elsevier's connection with the arms trade was "incompatible with The Lancet's guiding principles……, and the ethics of many of its contributors, readers, editors and reviewers." The editors and the advisory board asked the publisher to "divest itself of all business interests that threaten ...., health and well-being." Unfortunately Reed Elsevier said that it is legal to sell arms and they are needed in a dangerous world. ( J of R Soc Med 2007;100:114-115 ).

BMJ also published an editorial, "Reed Elsevier's arms trade" in the March issue, 2007;334:547-548 ( subscription required) joining JRSM in calling for action against Reed Elsevier. The editors said that the "scientific and health communities have the power to influence corporate strategy" and suggested ways they can end their support for the company's links with arms trade".

Recently, the publisher's arms trade was condemned by a group of prominent academics and an online petition has collected more than a 1000 signatures.

UK junior doctors medical training

The new recruitment system for junior doctors has turned into a disaster with hundreds of the most capable doctor failed to win an interview and without job prospect causing "deep distress to both trainees and those tasked with their selection".

Many senior surgeons threatened to boycott the interview process because they said the new system was flawed and unfair. Doctors of all ages and levels have written to the media voicing their strongest concerns over the implementation of the new recruitment system for PG speciality training. Staff at two major hospitals in London also sent a letter to Prof Elizabeth Paice, chair of the PG Medical Deans demanding "major changes".

DoH had previously said that they would not cancel the new system but would keep it under review but later backdown on the new recruitment system after protests from the medical profession and junior doctors. An independent review ordered by the DoH said the process has "shortcomings" and the system should be modified. Health minister Lord Hunt has apologised to those affected and the DoH said there will be "significant" changes to the second round of interviews in April.

This will include allowing applicants to submit full CVs and portfolios to support their applications. There will be changes to the application form and the scoring system, as well as better support and feedback for candidates. Those who have been rejected by the computerised system in the first round will be able to have their applications reconsidered.

Read the protest letter sent to the Daily Telegraph from 136 consultants