BOOK REVIEW
Single Best Answer MCQs in Anaesthesia: 1
C. Mendonca, M. Chaudhari and J. James
TFM Publishing Ltd: London, 2010
ISBN 978-1903378755,
198 pp
Price £30 ( s35)
Eur J Anaesthesiol 2011;28:148
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This is the first edition of a book which the authors state is
aimed at those preparing for postgraduate examinations
in anaesthesia. The European Diploma in Anaesthesiol-
ogy and Intensive Care currently uses traditional true/
false MCQs to test a candidate’s knowledge, unlike the
Final Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
(FRCA) (UK) examination, where Single Best Answer
MCQs (SBAs) were introduced in September 2010.
Although not stated, the book is clearly aiming to serve
candidates sitting the latter examination.
The book is divided into six papers, comprised of thirty
SBAs each, covering a broad spectrum of clinical anaes-
thesia, including questions on trauma, intensive care
medicine, acute and chronic pain, and obstetrics. The
topics covered are within the scope of the Final FRCA
curriculum, with the standard of the questions approxi-
mating well to examples released by the Royal College of
Anaesthetists. Each SBA commences with a case descrip-
tion followed by five responses, all of which are poten-
tially correct answers, but with one being the best
response and the remaining four being inferior. Follow-
ing each paper, there is an answer section, where the
correct responses are revealed with brief summaries of
subjects upon which the questions were based and refer-
ences for further reading.
The structure of questions are clear, easy to read and
unambiguous in their nature. They cover the broad range
0265-0215 ß 2011 Copyright European Society of Anaesthesiology
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
of subjects mentioned and include topical areas, such as
the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health
reports, though do not appear to address paediatric anaes-
thesia. The answer section summaries are concise with
useful explanations, and use bullet points and tables
where appropriate to illustrate data. References are from
recent publications of high-impact journals, websites and
well-known textbooks. With the adopted layout, the
book works well as a tool for self-assessment for a candi-
date sitting this format of exam.
Previous exam self-assessment books include a clear
description of the exam format addressed, with tips on
technique and a list of do’s and don’ts. This feature is
unfortunately not present in this book.
Despite these minor limitations, the book delivers
the sought after objectives. It provides sample ques-
tions and answers with explanations in a decipherable,
structured format, giving a clear insight into the chal-
lenges faced when sitting an SBA paper. It is a certainly
a book that I would recommend to any potential candi-
date and teacher involved in this particular examination
process.
Will Whiteley
Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesia,
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust,
Nottingham, UK
E-mail: w.whiteley@nemsa.net
DOI:10.1097/EJA.0b013e328342525f