Mobile Apps & Resources: Family Medicine Study Guide

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Preamble

Librarian reviewers consider the audience and purpose of the apps, as well as highlighting additional features:
 
  • In the ‘Evidence’ section, we assess how easily an app user can identify the app’s currency and support from the evidence
  • In the ‘Usability’ section, we assess the organization of information and other usability factors that may contribute to user experience

Our complete grading criteria for evidence and usability are embedded in the review.

Please note that the reviewers are not healthcare professionals, and so cannot appraise the quality of any recommendations within the app. The reviews are not endorsements.

View the AHS policy on Mobile Wireless Devices and Services.

 

Family Medicine Study Guide

 

Family Medicine Study Guide

Cost of App  $19.99

Version reviewed

1.6

Device & OS used

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) (AJL)
8.0.0; iPad 2 iOS 9.3.5 (CY)

Date of review

6 August 2019 (AJL); 2 August 2019 (CY)

Reviewers Ashley Jane Leonard (AJL) & Catherine Young (CY)
Technician Support Lori Maisey

 

The reviewers received a promotional code from the App developer that granted free access to the App in exchange for an unbiased review.

 

Image Source: Family Medicine Study Guide, Apple App Store. ​Retrieved on August 27, 2019 from https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/family-medicine-study-guide/id1072407249

 

Stated Purpose  

Retrieved from the Google Play and Apple App stores:

This "study buddy" was created as a portable curriculum to help motivate learning and allow users to track their studying progress throughout their family medicine training and career. As new information or concepts are acquired, users are able to amalgamate their knowledge into a single source which can be saved and used in future clinical years.

Taken from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.familymedicinestudyguide.fmstudyguide&hl=en_CA

Features

  • Case Lists
  • Quick Pix
  • Rapid Fire Questions
  • Mini Podcasts
  • Guidelines, mini- exam, 99 topics checklist (within The Vault section)

‘Clinical Pearls’ are also provided within each Case Listing; these take the form of mnemonic devices to assist with diagnosing specific conditions.

Screenshots

Specialties/Disciplines

Family Medicine

Physicians, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, allied health professionals

Notes

None

Part 1: Editorial committee, content updates, and evidence grading

The Family Medicine Study guide functions as learning resource. Various study and self- testing resources exist within the App. While there were peer reviewers listed, there was no formal editorial committee listed. This is not a searchable resource with an in-built or external grading system.

Part 2: Source and authorship information for 3 entries

Two lead contributing authors are identified within the app, as are 15 other contributing authors. In addition, a lead researcher and 17 peer reviewers are listed within the App. With this in mind, each individual entry does not have an author listed for it.

Organization of information

There are six categories of information available to you within this App and they have been organized as follows:

  • Case List (80 protocols)
  • Quick Pix (50 photographs)
  • Rapid Fire Questions (150 questions)
  • Mini-Podcasts (11 podcasts)
  • Random Case
  • The Vault

The Case listings and Quick Pix can be viewed either by number or by disease/condition name e.g. diabetes

The mini-podcasts have been divided into three different categories (Lifestyle medicine, lab-related, and extras)

The Vault contains the ‘About’ information for the App, as well as Guidelines, 99 topics checklist and a mini exam

Navigation

The App was easy and quite straightforward to navigate.  Browse-able lists of cases, quick pix, rapid fire questions, guidelines are available.

Overall the categories were easy to understand, and well named; there was strong correlation with what you would expect to find within each category.

However, The Vault category was not as clearly labelled – it is not immediately obvious to App users that this section contains the likes of Guidelines or a mini-exam, for example.

Extras

It is possible to flag individual Case Listings or Quick Pix so that you can return to those particular cases or images later for review, if needed.

User can save notes within the app

User can save text answers to cases, quick pix, and rapid fire questions in the app

Internet connection required for use: No;

Text search field: No; 

Browsable content: Yes; Content browsable by subject

Advertisements: No; 

Pop-up advertisements: No;

In-app purchases: No

Devices 

Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.  Requires iOS 8.0 or later.  https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/family-medicine-study-guide/id1072407249  Last updated (as per App store listing) June 2 2019

The App would appear to be compatible with any/all Android devices that have the operating system specifications required.  This App requires 4.0.3 and above. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.familymedicinestudyguide.fmstudyguide&hl=en_CA  Last updated (as per Google Play listing) May 31 2019

Size

77 MB (Android) ; 83.4 MB (Apple)                                                                                                                                                         

App Developer

Dr. Daniel Leger is listed as the primary author, while Dr. Michael Craig is listed as an Associate Author.

Country of Origin

Canada

Contact

The Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine

Department of Family Medicine, 1st Floor

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Western University

1465 Richmond Street

London, Ontario, Canada N6G 2M1

For comments, feedback, or questions regarding the design and features of the app:

Email: fmstudyguide@gmail.com

Website: http://www.familymedicinestudyguide.com/

Contact information has also been provided for both Twitter and Facebook.

Contact via Twitter: @FM_StudyGuide

Contact via Facebook: search for ‘Family Medicine Study Guide’