Focus of Book/Intention: The focus of this timely textbook is to introduce the methodology, purposes, and current forms of clinical prediction rules that are germane to practicing healthcare clinicians. The text provides a ‘one stop’ destination for the litany of clinical prediction rules that have been published in recent literature.
Intended Audience: This book is intended for physical therapists; but would be beneficial for a number of clinicians such as nurses, physicians, and other musculoskeletal healthcare professionals.
Description (chapters/format): There are nine chapters of the text. In essence, the book involves three different components, a section that describes the methodology of a clinical prediction rule (three chapters), a section on case studies, and a section that outlines the current rules (five chapters). The second section is divided into a screening chapter, a cervicothoracic chapter, a chapter for upper extremities, a lumbopelvic chapter, and a lower extremity chapter.
Strengths: This is the only resource I am aware of in which clinicians have all the current clinical prediction rules in one location, nicely explained, with the interventions provided. The large sized photos of the interventions are in color, as are the tests used for diagnosis. The book is very detailed and outlines a number of clinical prediction rules or clustered findings that are likely to surprise even the most knowledgeable clinicians. The book is printed on high quality paper and looks very professional.
Summary: The book is an important additional to a personal library and would also be a useful resource of educators and students of physical therapy. Whether one is fond of clinical prediction rules or not, the information included is quite comprehensive. In addition, it is the only one of its kind thus the market for this book should be very strong.