Home Study
Because the certification examination is clinically oriented and reflective of the day-to-day practice of family medicine, the most effective way to prepare for it is to participate actively in clinics, family medicine offices and learning opportunities such as case discussions, rounds and journal clubs. That said, it should be easy to study for the examination at home. Create an individual program of continuing medical education to fit your schedule. There are many convenient ways of keeping up-to-date with developments in primary care and family medicine. A few of the most popular options are listed here.
Review programs
Self LearningTM
Self Learning is a voluntary, Internet-based, CFPC educational program that allows physicians to evaluate themselves on how well they are able to keep in touch with current issues in the medical literature. Written by a group of family physicians across Canada, the program is self-contained with all the information needed to understand new research results and therapeutic techniques. Residents in family medicine may register to have free online access to the Self Learning program. Get more information on Self Learning.
Home Study and Self-Assessment Program - American Academy of Family Physicians
The College of Family Physicians of Canada has endorsed this program for use by its members. Audio, monograph, and combined subscriptions are available on topics of current interest. For more information please visit the American Academy of Family Physicians site or contact them by phone at (913) 906-6000 x5298; fax (913) 906-6285 or email.
Other Programs
Many other CME formats, including interactive online CME, are also available. For more information, please refer to the lists of CME programs eligible for MAINPRO credits.
Books and Journals
Several self-assessment and review books are published, with new editions every couple of years. These books are typically written to help candidates prepare for the American Board of Family Practice examinations; there are no books written specifically for the Canadian examinations. Visit the Canadian Library of Family Medicine's online listing of Family Medicine Review Books for some recent examples. These books are available from the Canadian Library of Family Medicine for loan to exam candidates.
Many physicians preparing for the exam have found it useful to quickly review the current edition of their favourite textbook in each of the major clinical disciplines contributing to family medicine: obstetrics, pediatrics, medicine, surgery and psychiatry.
Journals also offer opportunity for review. Canadian Family Physician, the official publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, publishes useful clinically oriented articles pertinent to the practice of family medicine in Canada. Journals of other national colleges and academic associations of family medicine include American Family Physician, Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, and the BJGP:British Journal of General Practice. Journals such as Journal Watch and the ACP Journal Club provide critical summaries of the original research literature, and are intended to help apply relevant, high-quality research to the practice of medicine. Get a convenient list of links to online journals of interest to family physicians.
The following three-part article may also be helpful. Full text is available below, or from the Canadian Library of Family Medicine.
The Canadian Library Of Family Medicine
The College's library service is always ready to help with any of your information needs. Book loans and article copying are two popular services used by those preparing for the exam. CFPC members are entitled to five free literature searches and copies of 25 articles free each year; book/av loans are free. Contact the library for detailed information on literature searches, photocopying, book/av loans, and other services. Let the library help you prepare for certification in the way that best suits you.
Canadian Library of Family Medicine
Natural Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario
London ON N6A 5B7
Tel: (519) 661-3170 Fax: (519) 661-3880
clfm@uwo.ca
http://cfpc.ca/LibraryServices/