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Rating: 
Summary: A good resource for CSA prep
Review: Although it doesn't have the real CSA format, it is worth studying. It can help you get insight about the CSA. It also has a lot of high-yield complaints that can appear on the real CSA. You can practice thorough history taking and physical exam with the checklist. A must for CSA/CSE candidates!
Rating: 
Summary: best buy for the money
Review: CSA is very expensive and I didn't want to fail it. I prepared for a month with this book and felt I didn't need to read anything else. With this book and the video that ECFMG gives out, I passed without breaking a sweat. I felt comfortable during the exam, and knew what to do. The cases are very similar to what you really get on the exam, and they tell you in the book exactly what you need to do. VERY GOOD BOOK!
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Summary: Definetly worth the money...
Review: I am a US citizen and a caribbean medical student. I was deathly afraid of the CSA--primarily because of the idea that failing it meant another $1200. I studied with a classmate of mine for about 2 months and then studied with a family member for another month (although studying with someone is not required--you can do it on your own). We role-played each case and did the write-ups all under the CSA timed conditions. This is really important! The book is great but just make sure you time each session--both the data gathering and the write-ups. You need to memorize the order of a H&P if you haven't already. When you get to the exam you will be able to take what you learned from the book and pass. The book allows you to hit the high points of what you should get out of the encounter without wasting too much time. The only negative about the book is that some questions that should be asked in some of the cases are omitted. Just make sure that you systematically go through the book and time it.
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Summary: I passed just because of this book
Review: I felt for an IMG this book is very useful and I am sure the success of this book will continue with introduction of CSE for US graduates. I would not have passed CSA without the help of this book
Rating:
Summary: must buy
Review: I passed the csa and found this book very useful ,deals with the cases that actually appear on the exam and tells you all you need to know to be prepared for it.It is a must buy!
Rating:
Summary: all you really need for CSA!!!
Review: I prepared CSA in ten days. This book was AWESOME!!! I got four cases very similar to the ones in the book, and the others were close enough to know exactly how to approach them. The second edition as an appendix on the patient's note, which I found very useful. I honestly didn't consult any other source for the CSA and I'm happy to say this book was worth every penny.My only advice is that you WORK WITH A PARTNER. Have a friend play your standarized patient, ask questions according to the guidelines given, and do your physical exam. It is a lot more fun and you practice on time management. This book provides the answers to your standarized patient, so he/she doesn't have to know anything about medicine. It also discusses DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS and the basic labs that should be ordered (and why!). It also stresses the importance of good communication skills and empathetic approach. Different cases will measure different things (like one case is purely communication skills and others are mainly history taking, whereas there are a few that only focus on physical exam). The trick is that you never know what each case will measure, so if you want to "pass", you have to do everything well! In the real CSA, you don't get cards that tell you about findings on the physical exam, so whatever you don't see in a standarized patient, you have to assume as normal. This is the only inaccuracy of the book, but it's a minor detail if you are aware of it. Time management: start timing yourself the moment you begin reading the introduction to the patient. Knock on the door (I used a spare room in my house to practice), and come in. Introduce yourself and get to the history taking and physical exam. This you should do in 15 minutes (even if the book sometimes gives you 10 minutes for the easy cases). Have someone (or an alarm clock) tell you when 10 minutes have passed, so you will know it's time to wrap up. Walk out the door after 15 minutes. You will be given 10 minutes to write the patient's note. A template of the note is provided in the book, but it is better to use the one given by ECFMG once you apply to the CSA. Like I said, I think this book is more than enough for CSA. I also had the 40 cases that are out there on the web and they were not nearly as organized and clear. I ended up not even reading them.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Useful
Review: This book is the same as the previous edition, not useful for CSA exam. This book was made initially for different audience...OSCE exam is not true that this book is oriented to CSA. Don't waste your money in this book.
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