The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7244 p519
12 April 2003

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Textbook on diseases has useful information that is easily accessible

'Handbook of pharmacy healthcare: diseases and patient advice', 2nd edition, edited by Robin J. Harman and Pamela Mason. Pp ix+604. Price £39.95. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2002 ISBN 0 85369 507 5

Twelve years have passed between the publication of the first and second editions of this textbook. In its revision, the aim remains the same in that "it is designed to provide a comprehensive but concise account of a wide range of diseases for which medicines are prescribed or for which non-prescription medicines are bought (OTC) and to help pharmacists to apply that knowledge to the benefit and care of patients".

The editors and contributors achieve this aim by subdividing the text into two principal parts. The first part, fundamentals of disease, provides a dictionary of monographs that defines the disease, its aetiology, symptoms and management. The diseases are classified to be compatible with the classification of body systems used in the British National Formulary and thereby Part A contains 13 chapters, in just over 300 pages, beginning with the gastrointestinal disorders and concluding with skin disorders.

Part B, patient advice, focuses in the first half on the needs of special patient groups, including older people, children and pregnant women (new for this edition). It then moves on to include chapters on interpersonal skills, identification and management of minor illness, and diagnostic procedures (also new for the second edition) about which patients might expect pharmacists to be able to provide advice. Part B concludes with a useful list of contacts for professional and self-help organisations.

Parts C and D provide a quick reference guide that would help establish the possible causes of symptoms presented by patients in the pharmacy and a glossary of medical terms, respectively. Overall, although other books are available that provide more depth in relation to the topics covered, this remains a good reference source for preregistration trainees and postgraduate pharmacists to have at hand since it contains much useful information that is easily accessible.

Patricia Black