Book Review
Peterson’s Principles of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, by Dr current status of clinical practice and includes coverage of all aspects
Michael Miloro, Dr Peter Larsen, Dr GE Ghali, and Dr Peter of esthetic Maxillofacial surgery. It has new chapters on cleft
Waite, 2nd edition, July 2004, published by BC Decker Inc. orthodontics and distraction osteogenesis, anesthesia section to
Hamilton, London UK, 1502 pages, Hard Bound, Price-£329 encompass comprehensive patient assessement and management
ISBN 1550092340. in the peri-anesthetic period, osseointegrated implant section to
include chapters on soft and hard tissue adjunctive procedures, as
T he concise, easy-to-read two–volume text provides an
authoritative and currently referenced survey of the speciality.
It contains the necessary information for clinicians, answers the
well as a section on implant prosthodontics for the surgeons.
Contributed by
need for a useful daily reference textbook that includes the full Col GK Thapliyal
scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Features the contributions Prof & HOD, Dept of Dental Surgery, AFMC, Pune.
of recognized experts in the area of the speciality, presents the
Designing Clinical Research : An Epidemiological Approach subject content through posing of practical questions in relevant
(2nd edition). Stephen B Hulley (et al). Lippincott Williams & situations. An interesting feature is the ‘Common Errors to Avoid’
Wilkins, Philadelphia, USA 2001. 336 pages (softcover). Approx section, which invariably are the errors that would be committed
cost US$59.95. ISBN 0-7817-2218-7. (available online at http:/ otherwise.
/www.amazon.com). The chapter on designing studies for evaluation of medical tests
A ny one who has ever conducted any form of clinical research is
aware of that eternal quest for the ‘holy grail’ of biomedical
research-the elusive ‘p value’. Mostly medical education is silent
serves as an introduction to the tricky issue that confronts many
practitioners faced with the proliferation of diagnostic tests in the
marketplace. The well written overview serves as a teaser to the
on the issues of research methodology especially in the clinical topic. The ethical concerns that are emerging in the research field all
fields, with masterful inactivity being the preferred mode, allowing over the world are addressed adequately.
students the latitude to chart their own course through the minefields The importance of designing questionnaires and data collection
of clinical research. The book reviewed here is a practical guide to instruments scientifically is dwelt upon at length and should serve
planning, tabulating, formulating and implementing clinical research. as a pointer to researchers who may not consider this important
It is a ‘no frills’, straightforward and reader friendly book. The enough at the design stage. However the authors could have given
structured approach by the authors to the issue of clinical research more illustrative examples of the various questionnaires to make
viewed from a clinicians perspective, with the viewpoint of a the experience more practical for the reader.
statistician has resulted in a balanced treatment of the subject,
With the opening up of the availability and access to research
without overly emphasizing the statistical part, which most
funding and grants from the Western world, the chapter on writing
clinicians usually find unpalatable. The book provides physicians
proposals would be relevant to researchers from India in providing
and clinical investigators rigorous and complete descriptions of key
a take off point, though specific issues in grant application writing
components while emphasizing common sense as the main ingredient
would need to be gleaned from the websites of the various funding
of good science.
agencies.
The easy to read uncomplicated presentation is highlighted by
The book is recommended primarily for clinicians intent on
the logical flow of the chapters. The development of the research
embarking on clinical research, however it is not intended to be a
question is emphasized and as is popular with Research
‘Do-it-Yourself ’ manual, with the need for teamwork and
Methodologists, the fundamental issue that needs to be investigated
cooperation between epidemiologists, bio statisticians and clinicians
is framed in suitable terms, to guide the novice intiate. Our advice
being the sine qua non for a successful research project. Post graduate
to readers would be to read through all the chapters in the sequence
students from all specialities will benefit from this introductory
laid out, to enable a broader grasp of the subject and insight into the
text and hence libraries may consider this an essential addition to
mechanics of study design. The authors of the book conduct summer
their collection.
workshops on research design for budding researchers regularly,
and the text is based on their experiences, in introducing the subject Contributed by
to lay medical professionals. Maj MP Cariappa
The chapters are liberally peppered with realistic examples with DADH, HQ 8 Mtn Div, c/o 56 APO
a summary at the end of each, to serve as a ‘take home message’. [Supported by National Institutes of Health UCLA Fogarty AIDS
The inclusion of exercises literally exercises one’s learning of the International Training Program]
