Exam Material

Turning an interesting question into a clinical topic review takes more than writing up the evidence. This 2012 FCEM preparation guide discusses planning, feedback and revision, explaining why early conversations with colleagues can prevent a promising project reaching submission before its weaknesses are recognised.

Does patient-controlled analgesia improve pain relief in the emergency department? This 2012 appraisal examines a randomised trial in acute abdominal pain, considering blinding, exclusions, the comparison treatment and how pain was measured, with additional explanations of area under the curve and block randomisation.

How should an emergency team respond when a patient refuses treatment after an overdose? This 2012 case discussion explores decision-making capacity, disagreement between clinicians, senior involvement and legal advice, illustrating the complexity of balancing autonomy with potentially life-saving treatment.

If medical publishing changes, do we still need journal clubs? This short introduction argues that critical appraisal matters just as much for blogs and other online evidence, and points readers towards practical advice for making an emergency medicine journal club useful.