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How To Read Harrison And Make The Most Of It?

Date: Tuesday, April 18 @ 03:28:27 IST
Topic: Medicine

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As a PG aspirant, I used to ask my seniors if there was some easy way to read Harrisons medicine
textbook and what to read in it. I was usually recommended to read it as a whole. During that time all
my attempts were to do the same, but at the end, I recognised we could also have the same results in
approaching the text in a different way, by knowing what to read, knowing what topics to concentrate
on really helps you to master the key points before the exam. Not only that it is much easier to revise
every time before the exam too. So at this point, I would like to share the way that I tackled the
mammoth book "Harrisons Principles of Internal Medicine"
My methodology of taming the mammoth book was to mark the important points , as you read it for
the first time.I used fluorescent markers to highlight the most important points. My time management
strategy was take max of 3 days to go through a system for the first read. for eg- resp or renal system
can be covered in 2 days.Once I got the imp points marked,it was easy to revise the systems.Just read
the highlighted /colored lines or topic, taking just one day or in rare cases 2 days max to finish a single
organ system.
some times if i find any points extra,i used to stick on yellow stick-on paper to stick and jot down extra
points on it.......
my recommended regions / high yield topics in harrison are
[PS- As you read the high yield areas, it is better if you have your text with you and skip through, it
will help you to get the maximum out of this article]
1.chapter 3- principles of clinical Pharmacology - a gold mine for Pharmacology facts, which takes care
of most of general pharmacology questions-a must read before any exam
2.chapter 4- topic about screening .A fast revision through it gives a good idea about the screening
methods.Even last year it was asked about which ca screening was most cost effective. And questions
like that could only be tackled if you read the topic
3.chapter 11- chapter on pain mechanisms-more and more questions from here in subjects like
pharmacology and physiology.
4. chapter 11 to 39-chapters on symptomatology from.Here chapter 14 -on headache is a must read.
The rest clinical topics can be skipped if you remember your clinics even moderately.
5.chapter 46- the chapter on Dermatology,very helpful for skin mcqs esp. for exams like PGIMER.
Definitely have a brush thru the chapter but skippable if time does not permit.
6.chapter 52,53,54,55,90 to 100,101 to 103-chapters on hematology- one of the best text written
about the topic. Be on a look out for new drugs here.a must read topic for all pg exams.takes care of
Physiology , Pathology and Pharmacology in haematology
7.chapters on genetics-chapter 56,57,58- I found Robbins more helpful in mastering the topic .but
please go thru the tables as they are high yield areas.
8.chapter 59- indications of stem cell therapy.
9.chapter 64-obesity-drugs, treatment, Pathology
10.chapter 66-89- chapters on oncology - this is a very high yield area.Every year, more and more
questions are appearing from tumours.I finished the whole section in 3-4 intermittent days,a fast
brush through marking the points.No need to take longer time than that.
11. part six- chapters 104 to 118- chapters on organ infections like infective endocarditis,
osteomyelitis will help answer MCQs in different specialities like orthopaedics, SPM, surgery etc.. a high
yield area for every exam
12. from 119 to204- is a very big section on various pathogens. my approach was,while I did Mudit
Khanna or Ashish gupta I back referred to brush through the corresponding pathogens[which of course
are the most important ones] .that helped a lot .Dont forget to read the most common pathogens first
, then as a second round focus on the less heard ones. I also did a second sitting with a pal of mine, to
conquer all that monotonous data with lot of memorising to do.You can make the most out of it if some
one else reads Microbiology text with you and add points like culture mediums, appearances of
colonies, diagnostic tests or techniques. In that way,master each infection at a time .
13.chapter 118-gives a full coverage on antimicrobial drugs-a very good text.You can revise the whole

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antimicrobial drugs in an hour.

14.chapters 208 to 232 is about cardiovascular system. I personally felt it to be very time consuming
and less cost effective.so I did a selective reading rather than cover the big whole topic as a
whole.Back reference of important points chapters on heart failure, valvular disease cong diseases ,
CAD etc as you go through your guides.
15. chapters 233-248 -chapters on respiratory system.this is one of the sections where reading it
completely is worth a lot. Definitely a must read.
16.chapers 259 to 270- chapters on renal system- another cost effective read. can cover the whole
topic in a day ,all except the topic renal failure.the topic of renal failure can be done in another day or
half.
17. chapter 271-281-chapters on GIT.Most portions here are covered in surgery but still a lot of MCQs
here.So do a fast read,can be finished in less than a day.Also highlight important drugs and points .
18.chapters 282-294 - chapters on liver and biliary and pancreas. You can do first read in 2
days.Stress on topics like hepatitis,transplant etc
19. chapters 295-297- chapters on immune system basics.Not that a high yield read ,but do back
referring especially the tables.Read immune deficiency diseases.I personally prefer Robbins better for
covering the topic.
20. chapters 298 to 310, contains a lot of very high yield topics.topics like amyloidosis, sarcoidosis,
rheumatic fever, RA ,vasculitis syndromes like Wegners etc.These topics are also less forgettable areas
once u read.
21. 311-316- Topics on joint disease.Not a five star area,except for selected topics like gout.so it is
better if you do only back referring.dont waste a whole day here just to cover the whole topic. the rest
of topics are skippable if time doesnt permit.
22.chapters on endocrinology-chapters 317 to 330- lot of MCQs scattered here.but considering size,its
better if you back refer as needed rather than try to digest it as a whole. especially high yield are
thyroid, pituitary,adrenals etc-the new highlighted amiodarone induced thyroid disease . also read the
basic Physiology of each endocrine gland too.Helps a lot. But if u really have time or preparing for an
exam far away, it's no harm in reading completely because that will help in other subjects like
Paediatrics , Pharmacology , Gynaecology and even some surgery.
23. chapter 331-334-only do back referring - focus on five star topics like parathyroid and osteoporosis
24.chapters 335-344- not a five star topic if u r good in Biochemistry.you can skip these regions if your
preparation is for a short term exam.
25. chapters 345-362- chapters on neurology. only bother to read completely,if you are a die hard
NIMHANS aspirant.For the rest,just focus on high yield chapters like seizure treatment, CVA,
Alzheimers, ms, infections, prion diseases and only back refer and mark the important points. saves
lot of time!with almost same effect for usual PG exams.
26.chapters 363-369-chapters on muscle and nerve disease- must read topics are GBS, muscle
dystrophies and myositis
27.chapters 370-375- Chapters on mental illness.better given in Psychiatry text.
28.chapters 376 to 379- the topic on poisons and overdose is very important and the rest is skippable
Apart from the above mentioned.. make sure u glance thru "every table in harrison and Robbins" especially PGI aspirants. they give a summary like picture of the whole text and are very high yield
also.
And that, dear people sums a review of the whole of harrison , chapter by chapter........
Remember ,the whole idea/principle behind your study should be to place data in such a way,that they
can be revised fast before each exam.
when revising harrison,go through the book system wise. revision of each organ system may take
about a day.so u can finish the important organ sytems and points in whole of harrison in a week.and
it will definitely boost up your confidence and approach to the exam.
ps- a word of advice- please make sure that u master the most asked areas first then go to the less
important ones.. because it is the former that may save you... and the latter help you to top above it..
but u need a strong base before u go for the top.........
Dont be mislead;because medicine alone is not sufficient for you to get through pg exams.even though
Harrison is "the holiest of all the books". make sure u master the small topics like SARP, ENT ,
Ophthalmology , Forensic . it really makes a difference and helps you top over the crowd.

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I hope this was a help for all pg aspirants. All the best for your preparations...
regards
vimoj
RxPG Team would like to thank vimoj for this well written analysis on tackling Harrison. If you are
benefitted by this article, please take some time post similar analysis for various textbooks. Any
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