|  I found ‘Disease management’ to be a modern book, taking
a fresh approach to “teaching” the subject of disease management
and implying an active role for pharmacists in this health care area.
The book works clearly within the context of UK health care. It uses
the most recent reference texts, including governmental documents and
National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines, to inform its
applied content. Readers will generally be familiar with the references
and, through the book, will be able to appreciate the relevance of these
sources to their practice. I perceive this to be a positive feature,
although have thought about whether this may contribute to the book becoming
outdated faster if the authors do not manage to update the references
in time.
In my opinion the structuring of the book is clear and useful — the
background chapters are helpful in ensuring that issues of, for example,
lifestyle, drug misuse, pregnancy and smoking are considered in the context
of the overall management of diseases. The further introductory chapters
on symptoms and signs as well as pharmacology (clearly presented) are
extremely helpful in “one pack” with the rest of the book
for quick reference to all forgotten. This, together with the choice
of conditions, makes the book comprehensive with regards to the content.
The book provides an essence of each covered area in just the appropriate
depth; it discusses the main points that can be further explored and
studied by the reader. The connection to practice is made throughout
the book.
The tables used within the book are well chosen with regards to the topic
and content. The tables are clear and easy to use for immediate reference.
The cases are illustrative and applicable. Cross-referencing is also
useful, enabling a review of drugs and treatments in various contexts.
The language used is clear and professional, using but not abusing terminology
and professional style.
I can see this book being used as a first port of call, a useful refresher
and a reference book for practising pharmacists, particularly in primary
care. I can also see the book being used by pharmacy students seeking
to understand the essence of disease management and to identify main
points for further study. Finally, I can see this book being used by
nurses involved in disease management and prescribing.
Dita Engová
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal