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Book reviews www.rcog.org.uk/togonline
Book reviews
PROLOG: Patient Management
in the Office, 5th edition
Author American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
The fifth edition of PROLOG: Patient Management
in the Office is one of five question-and-answer-
style, soft-cover educational books in the PROLOG
(Personal Review of Learning in Obstetrics and
Gynecology) series. The complete series is made up
of four other books—Obstetrics, Gynecologic
Oncology and Critical Care, Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility and Gynecology and
Surgery—and is designed to serve as a self-
assessment study guide, as well as to complement
other educational material.
This most recent edition, published in 2007,
includes a 61-page test booklet, complemented by a
264-page answer booklet containing explanations,
diagrams and pictures. The book is intended to
review seven broad areas related to the office
practice of obstetrics and gynaecology: screening
and diagnosis; medical management; surgical
management; epidemiology; counselling; ethical
and legal issues; and office procedures. Questions
on these topics are randomly interspersed
throughout the textbook.
There are 167 questions in total, of which the first
148 are multiple choice and the remaining ones
matching; they can be completed in as little as
2–3 hours. The real benefit to this series is the
thorough review provided in the explanation book.
In addition to providing the answers and reasoning
behind the correct answer, each explanation
provides an up-to-date review of the subject matter
up to a full page in length and includes references.
Examples of topics discussed that are continually
evolving include prenatal and cervical cancer
screening, infectious disease management in
pregnancy, contraception, hormone replacement
and management of perimenopausal issues.
279 (page 1 of 9)
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
This edition contains more thorough and complete
reference tables and flow diagrams for the
management of medical and gynaecological issues,
requiring more decision-making than previous
editions. The appendix of the explanation book
contains standard (US) lab values, diagnostic
criteria for metabolic syndrome and asthma
management during pregnancy and lactation, as
well as photographs and pictures referenced to
individual questions. There is a thorough and
easy-to-understand index of topics at the end of the
book.
In summary, the fifth edition of PROLOG: Patient
Management in the Office represents a
continuation of clear, high-quality and enjoyable
review material published by the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG). This and other books in the PROLOG
series provide many useful hours of review in a
concise and highly relevant fashion. They often
serve as the starting point for further or more in-
depth revision of related material in preparation
for exams or self-directed learning. They also
serve well as a quick reference for topics
encountered in the office. Overall, this book is a
highly-recommended ‘must read’ for obstetricians
and gynaecologists preparing for standardised
exams in the USA, or physicians anywhere who
wish to assess and expand their knowledge base.
Reviewer Stephan Krotz MD
Fellow, Reproductive Medicine and Infertility;
and Gary Frishman MD
Director, Residency Program
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University,
Rhode Island, USA
American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, 2007
ISBN 9781932328288
Paperback, 264 pages, £105.50
10.1576/toag.10.4.279.27448
© 2008 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists