General Practice

Like this picture, the exact information you need to know isn't clear. Otherwise it would be called 'Specific Practice'.

You need good general knowledge

It is difficult to write good notes on General Practice. There are no real new areas to cover, just a different take on the knowledge you do know. Everything you see in the hospital is serious, yet the vast majority of problems in health are not terribly serious. Someone has a "fit" - in hospital they have epilepsy; in primary care, they might just have fainted, or had a panic attack - its not always serious.

So what do I learn?

It's hard for the medical school to write exam questions, and thus hard for you to prepare for them. Basically, read through the Specialities section, making sure you have a rough idea of the body and how it works, reading the key clinical conditions, and trying not to sound too dum.

Key problems

• Health Promotion, smoking, immunisation and lifestyle improvements, such as exercise to prevent obesity.
• Upper and lower respiratory tract infections, which go hand in hand with COPD and Asthma.
• Multidisciplinary team
• Screening
• Psychiatric, especially depression
• GU problems
• Contraception - including starting someone on the pill.
• STIs
• Minor injuries.
• Dermatology