How to Pass the FRACP Written Examination. Jonathan Gleadle
of areas of medicine that are new, contemporary, or evolving. We hope that readers will use the book to help them define areas of their own medical knowledge that are incomplete and would benefit from focussed learning and revision. Whilst many of the questions are designed to be similar in level to those in the actual examination, some are specialised or difficult, designed to ‘teach’ particularly important issues, stretch the reader’s knowledge or to draw attention to contemporary topics. Furthermore, these questions often require clinical reasoning with many being two step questions where simple recall of knowledge is insufficient.
Whist the main audience for the book is intended to be Trainees undertaking the FRACP written examination, we hope that it may be useful to physicians seeking to update their knowledge or to undertake other postgraduate examinations.
Questions in the written examination are based on the curriculum and all candidates should familiarise themselves with the RACP curriculum for Basic Physician training, which is available electronically from the College website (https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default‐source/default‐document‐library/knowledge‐guides‐for‐basic‐trainees‐in‐adult‐internal‐medicine.pdf?sfvrsn=38dc0d1a_4). It is vital to carefully read the most updated examination instructions in any past questions provided by the RACP.
In undertaking the written examination:
Read the question carefully!
Read the possible answers carefully!
Answer all of the questions! (make an informed guess if you are uncertain)
If you are uncertain about the correct response, look at which options you think are definitely incorrect. Think about why the question is being asked; what is the question ‘getting at?’; what are the important ‘teaching points’ that are being tested? If you still are uncertain, move to the other questions and then come back to those you are not certain of.
We hope that this book will improve your medical knowledge and thereby help you to pass the FRACP examination. Good luck! Clinical practice and biomedical sciences are constantly changing and today’s incontrovertible facts can quickly become outdated when a new trial is published or a new scientific discovery made. Therefore, trainees are strongly encouraged to keep up‐to‐date with their reading and learning, and to check appropriate drug selection, dosage and route of administration. If you have any questions or suggestions, please write to us care of the publisher.
Jonathan Gleadle Professor of Medicine College of Medicine and Public Health Flinders University and Consultant Nephrologist Flinders Medical Centre Adelaide, Australia
Jordan Li Associate Professor of Medicine College of Medicine and Public Health Flinders University and Consultant Nephrologist Flinders Medical Centre Adelaide, Australia
Danielle Wu Adjunct Senior Lecturer College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University and Consultant Nephrologist and General Physician Mackay Base Hospital Queensland, Australia
Paul Kleinig Clinical Associate Lecturer College of Medicine and Public Health Flinders University and Consultant in General Medicine Palliative Care and Care of the Elderly Flinders Medical Centre Adelaide, Australia
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank many of our colleagues who have made major contributions to this book. We would particularly like to acknowledge Dr Katherine Punshon, Dr Sonia Huang, Dr Naukhez Asif, and Dr Telena Kerkham for contributing questions and review.
We would like to thank Oliver Mountain, Justine Li, our student reviewers, and Jasmin Shuen who all provided meticulous review, editing of the manuscript, references and QR codes. Your contributions were essential in the generation of this book.
Finally, a special thanks to Anne Hunt, Anupama Sreekanth, James Watson, and Mary Malin at Wiley for your support in making this book possible.
We would like to acknowledge the following specialists and advanced trainees for their expertise, comments and reviews of the relevant chapters.
Cardiology Professor Bill Heddle Consultant Cardiologist Department of Cardiology Flinders Medical Centre and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Critical Care Medicine Dr Hanmo Li Senior Registrar, Advanced Trainee in Critical Care Medicine Intensive and Critical Care Unit Flinders Medical Centre
Dermatology Dr Alain Tran Senior Registrar, Advanced Trainee in Dermatology, Associate Lecturer Department of Dermatology Flinders Medical Centre and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Endocrinology Dr Angela Chen Consultant Endocrinologist Department Endocrinology Flinders Medical Centre
Epidemiology, Statistics and Research Paul Hakendorf Manager, Clinical Epidemiology Unit Flinders Medical Centre
Chris Horwood
Senior Epidemiologist and Data Analyst
Clinical Epidemiology Unit
Flinders Medical Centre
Gastroenterology Dr Alex Barnes Consultant Gastroenterologist, Associate Lecturer Department of Gastroenterology Flinders Medical Centre and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
General and Geriatric Medicine Dr Pravin Shetty Consultant General Physician and Senior Lecturer Department of General Medicine Flinders Medical Centre and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Genetic Medicine Associate Professor Karen Lower Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Haematology Dr Angelina Yong Consultant Haematologist Department of Haematology Lyell McEwin Hospital
Immunology Dr Claire Reynolds Senior Registrar, Advanced Trainee in Immunology Department of Immunology Flinders Medical Centre
Infectious Disease Dr Nicholas Anagnostou Consultant Infectious Disease Physician Department of Infectious Disease Flinders Medical Centre
Medical Obstetrics Dr Jessica Gehlert Consultant Endocrinologist, Clinical Pharmacologist and Obstetric Medicine Department of Clinical Pharmacology Flinders Medical Centre
Medical Oncology Dr Anna Mislang Consultant Medical Oncologist Department of Medical Oncology Flinders Medical Centre
Mental Health Professor Michael Baigent Consultant Psychiatrist Centre for Anxiety and Related Disorders Flinders Medical Centre and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Nephrology Dr Sarah Tan Senior Registrar, Advanced Trainee in Nephrology, Associate Lecturer Department of Renal Medicine Flinders Medical Centre and College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Neurology Associate Professor Tim Kleinig Consultant Neurologist and Stroke Physician The Central Adelaide Neurology Service Royal Adelaide Hospital
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Addiction Medicine Dr Jessica Gehlert Consultant Endocrinologist, Clinical Pharmacologist and Obstetric Medicine Department of Clinical Pharmacology Flinders Medical Centre
Radiology Dr Ramon Pathi Consultant Radiologist Medical Imaging Services Flinders Medical Centre
Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Dr Brendan Dougherty Consultant Respiratory Physician Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Flinders Medical Centre
Dr Teng Yuan Kang
Senior Registrar, Advanced Trainee in Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Associate Lecturer
Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine
Flinders Medical Centre