Educational review

The poster is from a series published by the European Campaign Against Domestic Violence (figure). An education and debate article (BMJ 2003;327:673-5. 20 Sep) click here looked at the role of primary care services in picking up cases of partner abuse--the preferred term for domestic abuse, which encompasses emotional, sexual, and economic abuse, as well as physical violence.

From the same issue (p 664) there is an enlightening article on alcohol misuse in elderly people. Stereotypes of alcoholics focus on younger generations, but this clinical review identifies the problem in older age groups and states that, as the population ages, this problem will become even greater.

For anyone who feels puzzled by the mysteries of screening, a useful explanation of the differences between sensitivity and specificity was published in the BMJ's theme issue about communicating risk on 27 September (2003;327:716-9) click here. The highly publicised controversy over the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine shows how danger is often overestimated while benefits are often undervalued. In the same issue (p 728) an article looking at how doctors may communicate risk more effectively explores this idea further.

Following on from last month's educational review, the ABC series of subfertility continued in the past four issues of the BMJ. The first of these (2003;327:669-72. 20 Sep) click here, focused on male subfertility. A staggering 1 in 20 men is affected. The article gave simple definitions, a thorough summary of treatment, and up to date information that old lecture notes may lack. The second in the series (BMJ 2003;327:721-4. 27 Sep) click here talked through the problem of unexplained infertility, endometriosis, and fibroids, and thus stressed the problems that these common gynaecological conditions can cause. The other two (BMJ 2003;327:799-801 click here and BMJ 2003;327:852-5) click here give a concise introduction to assisted conception and are pitched appropriately for undergraduate exams. Once again, specialist terms are simply defined, and the acronyms used to describe treatments for subfertility are explained.