2024 – PAGE 11 – GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE PBR FORMAT

* GRAY HIGHLIGHTING: In the PBR hardcopy resources, gray highlighting is used over a word, phrase or chapter title to feature content that you MUST KNOW! These are very high-yield topics and are likely to be seen on the exam as an answer choice. PBR’s online books may have this content in red text or yellow highlighting.

* DOUBLE TAKE: You will LOVE THIS! A “DOUBLE TAKE” alert accompanies topics that are in the book multiple times. Medicine ties together. Ordinarily, that results in flipping back and forth between chapters. Double Take is a PBR-specific system used to increase efficiency by reducing the flipping back and forth between related (or similar) topics. Most of these topics tend to be very high yield.

* NAME ALERTS:  Many disease names sound very similar (e.g., Condyloma Lata versus Condyloma Acuminata, or Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome versus Diamond-Blackfan Anemia). NAME ALERTS serve as reminders to look for these subtle differences.

* ABBREVIATIONS: Some disorders are discussed using their abbreviations while others are discussed with their proper names. When searching for a topic online you should do a search for both. If you encounter an unfamiliar acronym, try this tool: www.AcronymFinder.com

* MNEMONICS: If you’re much smarter than me, you don’t need these. If you have an average memory, like me, you MUST learn to take advantage of memory aids. They can dramatically increase your efficiency as you journey to retain thousands of bits of information. The PBR mnemonics may or may not work for you, but many of them should serve as excellent examples of the various types of memory aids you can begin to create. As a tip, always use as much action, color, exaggeration and “crazy” as possible.

* PEARLS: These are bits of information that help tie key concepts together for you. Members LOVE THEM! Here’s a PEARL for you. J There are only a finite number of ways that the ABP can test you on a disease process. Some PEARLS will show you how information could be presented on the exam.