The Family Practice Exam, developed by the American Board of Family Medicine, is a comprehensive and challenging examination for men and women looking to enter the rewarding field of family medicine. It is designed as an assessment of the knowledge and practical skills relevant to professional practice.
In general, all of the content relates to the diagnosis, management, and prevention of illness, though another way to break down the content of the exam is in terms of body system. From this perspective, the content of the Family Practice Exam is divided into sixteen domains: cardiovascular (12 percent of the exam); endocrine (8 percent); gastrointestinal (7 percent); hematology and immune (3 percent); integumentary (6 percent); musculoskeletal (12 percent); nephrology (3 percent); neurology (3 percent); nonspecific (9 percent); psychogenic (7 percent); female reproductive (4 percent); male reproductive (1 percent); respiratory (13 percent); special sensory (2 percent); population-based care (5 percent); and patient-based systems (5 percent).
The population-based care domain covers issues such as biostatics, epidemiology, prevention, health policy, bioterror, and quality improvement. That of patient-based systems addresses clinical decision-making, communication with patients and families, ethics, and palliative care.
As part of the Family Practice Exam, candidates must select two additional content modules from the following list: ambulatory family medicine, child and adolescent care, geriatrics, women’s health, maternity care, emergent and urgent care, hospital medicine, and sports medicine.
The Family Practice Exam is administered via computer at testing locations around the country in five sections. Candidates begin with a two-hour session in which they must answer 120 multiple-choice questions, followed by completion of the first of the two optional modules. This section consists of 45 multiple-choice questions, and test takers are allowed 45 minutes to complete it. During the third section of the exam, the candidates complete their second optional module, another 45 multiple-choice questions to be answered within 45 minutes. The fourth section of the exam is comprised of 80 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed within 95 minutes. The final section of the Family Practice exam lasts 95 minutes and consists of another 80 multiple-choice questions.
Family Practice Exam Practice Test
1. A patient that has TB can be taken off restrictions after which of the following parameters have been met?
A: Negative culture results.
B: After 30 days of isolation.
C: Normal body temperature for 48 hours.
D: Non-productive cough for 72 hours.
2. A doctor teaching a patient with COPD pulmonary exercises should do which of the following?
A: Teach purse-lip breathing techniques.
B: Encourage repetitive heavy lifting exercises that will increase strength.
C: Limit exercises based on respiratory acidosis.
D: Take breaks every 10-20 minutes with exercises.
3. A patient asks a doctor the following question. Exposure to TB can be identified best with which of the following procedures?
A: Chest x-ray
B: Mantoux test
C: Breath sounds examination
D: Sputum culture for gram-negative bacteria
4. A fifty-five year-old man suffered a left frontal lobe CVA. The patient’s family is not present in the room. Which of the following should the doctor watch most closely for?
A: Changes in emotion and behavior
B: Monitor loss of hearing
C: Observe appetite and vision deficits
D: Changes in facial muscle control
5. A central venous pressure reading of 11cm/H(2)0 of an IV of normal saline is determined by the doctor caring for the patient. The patient has a diagnosis of pericarditis. Which of the following is the most applicable:
A: The patient has a condition of hypovolemia.
B: Not enough fluid has been given to the patient.
C: Pericarditis may cause pressures greater than 10cm/H(2)0 with testing of
CVP.
D: The patient may have a condition of arteriosclerosis.
Family Practice Answers
1. (A) Negative culture results would indicate absence of infection.
2. (A) Purse lip breathing will help decrease the volume of air expelled by increased bronchial airways.
3. (B) The Mantoux is the most accurate test to determine the presence of TB.
4. (A) The frontal lobe is responsible for behavior and emotions.
5. (C) >10cm/H(2)0 may indicate a condition of pericarditis
Job Directory
