Family Med COMAT

[FutureDO2016]

Hello what do people that already took the Family Medicine COMAT recommend using to study for it? The topics are so vague and generalized...what book is most helpful? Also, what topics did you focus on? Would you recommend Case Files or Blueprints?

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[Mr. Mojo Risin]

I plan on using Case Files and Blueprints with UWorld and AAFP questions. I don't know if that's overkill, or even feasible, but since I won't have Peds, OB/GYN, or IM before I want to make sure I hit all the hot topics.

 

[dfib slim]

I plan on using Case Files and Blueprints with UWorld and AAFP questions. I don't know if that's overkill, or even feasible, but since I won't have Peds, OB/GYN, or IM before I want to make sure I hit all the hot topics.

I'm in the same boat. I was thinking Case Files, AAFP questions, and the ambulatory care section of Step-up. UW might be overkill just for FM seeing as you would probably need to do all of it except surgery, haha. Does combank/comquest have sections specifically for FM? I'm really trying to save UW for the others.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

I'm in the same boat. I was thinking Case Files, AAFP questions, and the ambulatory care section of Step-up. UW might be overkill just for FM seeing as you would probably need to do all of it except surgery, haha. Does combank/comquest have sections specifically for FM? I'm really trying to save UW for the others.

Ah I forgot about the ambulatory part of Step-Up, so maybe I'll choose between Case Files and Blueprints then. As for UW, I meant the preventative section. Honestly I'm still trying to figure this whole resource management thing out for this year. It's both a blessing and a curse to have so many options.

I have little experience using combank/comquest, so I'd also like to hear some more thoughts on that route.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

I'm reading through other threads, but I just went through the entire Official COMAT Shelf thread and this is what I pulled from it regarding the FM COMAT:

I had the FM one, and I thought it wasn't too bad. I do agree the questions were all over the place, and honestly, the test felt too much like a blur for me to even remember what they were. The linked questions at the end were for the most part easy, although I had no idea on the last five (a bunch of fungal terminology that made me scratch my head). I wonder when we get our results.

Just took FM COMAT. Impressions:

- Didn't think it was too terrible...but a number of qs were ambiguous.

- My test had tons of random geriatrics qs that I wasn't really expecting. I had to think back to our geri class to reason through these (think I did decently on them, fortunately).

- There were also a number of random ethics qs that I hadn't expected either. I was able to reason through most/all of these, however, so if your ethics background for step 1 was solid you may be ok here.

- Surprised at the lack of relevant questions...I saw zero HTN qs, maybe 1 q on pneumonia, zero hyperlipidemia qs, zero DM qs, perhaps a couple qs on GERD.

The amb care chapter of Step-up was solid gold, but you need to read some parts of the pulm, cardio, and all of the infectious dz chapters to really be in good shape. The AAFP GME questions were great also (go to their website and sign up for a free "membership").

This exam seemed ok but apparently our class average on the peds COMAT was 58% (!), so it does sound as though some of these exams are rough.

Btw, does anyone know when/how these scores get delivered to us?

family med, know your fp ob and peds. know your visceral somatics.

Just took the FM COMAT.

Impressions: absolutely, positively horrible. No other words will do. Poorly written, vague questions. If you thought the COMLEX was bad this might push you over the edge.

Study CaseFiles a few times; study PreTest a few times; do Blueprints if you'd like; read UptoDate on your patients. At least you'll know what you should for FM.

The COMAT won't test you on hardly any of that. Random geriatrics, crazy behavioral and/or policy questions. Very little evaluation of one's clinical knowledge. Crappy OPP questions that don't test much common knowledge. Management questions that you won't find the correct answer to in any text a third year would use during their rotation.

I could have studied for another two weeks and not gotten any more questions right.

Fam Med:

This one I also mostly used blueprints and I felt the questions from the back of the book were very representative of what I saw on my exam. I scored well above the national average on it.

I always go to the NBOME website and take their 15 q exam and it seems like a decent place to figure out what they are focused on, on Fam Med I felt it was useful, on psych I didn't feel it was.

Hope this helps people out.

Questions on the AAFP website were a great learning tool. I also read through case files. Should be plenty

Internal Medicine will have more laboratory values (CBC/BMP) in the question stems, while Family Medicine will have more vital signs and screening/prevention-oriented labs. IM will cover all of the IM subspecialties quite evenly, at least as outlined on the blueprint. Family Medicine may contain questions that have to do with Pediatrics and OB/GYN, but these subjects will not be represented on the IM exam. Either way your study strategy should be the same: do all the required coursework, focus on an IM/FM-specific review book, q-bank, etc. You should be reading daily on the topics you've seen throughout the day.

For the FM shelf I recommend the AAFP board review questions and the Ambulatory section of SUTM. Both very representative of the content on the exam.

 

[FutureDO2016]

Thanks...I was planning on studying with Case Files, the sample questions from NBOME and maybe AAFP questions if they are free but I heard you need a login? I will also check out the Ambulatory section in Step Up to Medicine right?

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Thanks...I was planning on studying with Case Files, the sample questions from NBOME and maybe AAFP questions if they are free but I heard you need a login? I will also check out the Ambulatory section in Step Up to Medicine right?

The AAFP questions are indeed free, you just need to register with them. The ambulatory chapter of SUTM is only like ~50 pages.

 

[dfib slim]

The AAFP questions are indeed free, you just need to register with them. The ambulatory chapter of SUTM is only like ~50 pages.

Have you gotten the AAFP questions to work? I'm on the page but I don't see a link to start them.

https://nf.aafp.org/Assessment/Listing/8358ede4-a084-4125-8f91-58c571a978ee

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Have you gotten the AAFP questions to work? I'm on the page but I don't see a link to start them.

https://nf.aafp.org/Assessment/Listing/8358ede4-a084-4125-8f91-58c571a978ee

I just got the confirmation email from AAFP about my membership yesterday, so I haven't checked yet. I'll check on it when I get home today and let you know.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Have you gotten the AAFP questions to work? I'm on the page but I don't see a link to start them.

https://nf.aafp.org/Assessment/Listing/8358ede4-a084-4125-8f91-58c571a978ee

When you log in, click on the CME tab at the top, then when you get to the CME homepage, you have to click on the Board Review Preparation link under the CME by Topic area on the left side of the screen. When you get to the Board Review Preparation page, the link to the questions is at the bottom of the page. It's called Board Review Questions. See the attached photo, which was taken on the Board Review Questions page. On the right there is the link to the questions.

Hope this helps.

 

[abolt18]

When you log in, click on the CME tab at the top, then when you get to the CME homepage, you have to click on the Board Review Preparation link under the CME by Topic area on the left side of the screen. When you get to the Board Review Preparation page, the link to the questions is at the bottom of the page. It's called Board Review Questions. See the attached photo, which was taken on the Board Review Questions page. On the right there is the link to the questions.

Hope this helps.

So I have the same issue. I click on that thing that says "Do Board Review Questions" and it takes me to a page that gives me nothing of value. No new links on the next page.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

So I have the same issue. I click on that thing that says "Do Board Review Questions" and it takes me to a page that gives me nothing of value. No new links on the next page.

Weird. I just clicked on the "Begin Board Review Questions" and it took me to a page with a crap ton of systems-based quizzes.

 

[FutureDO2016]

I just signed up for an AAFP account and it takes 1-2 days to get approved so I'll let everyone know next week if the questions worked for me...

 

[dfib slim]

So I have the same issue. I click on that thing that says "Do Board Review Questions" and it takes me to a page that gives me nothing of value. No new links on the next page.

That's what I'm getting. When I signed up for an account I didn't have to wait at all, it was immediate. Maybe I did it wrong.

 

[abolt18]

That's what I'm getting. When I signed up for an account I didn't have to wait at all, it was immediate. Maybe I did it wrong.

Me too? Same issue. Same situation.

 

[dfib slim]

Me too? Same issue. Same situation.

I figured it out. Go to http://www.aafp.org/about/membership/join.html and click on student membership on the left. Don't know what I did the first time.

 

[abolt18]

I figured it out. Go to http://www.aafp.org/about/membership/join.html and click on student membership on the left. Don't know what I did the first time.

Yeah I was JUST about to come tell you the same thing. I think you and I both just clicked on the thing that takes you to the questions and registered from there without "applying" like you and I just found.

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Yeah I was JUST about to come tell you the same thing. I think you and I both just clicked on the thing that takes you to the questions and registered from there without "applying" like you and I just found.

Should change your username to adolt18







... I kid. I kid. Glad you guys figured it out! Curious to see how these questions go. Is FM your first rotation?

 

[dfib slim]

.

 

[JimBobDO]

Hey sorry if this thread is dead - quick question - which categories of Combank & Comquest would you guys recommend using to prep for the FM COMAT?

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

Hey sorry if this thread is dead - quick question - which categories of Combank & Comquest would you guys recommend using to prep for the FM COMAT?

I don't know since I bought the COMAT bank for COMBANK and that's what I'm using. Saving the Level 2 stuff for a little closer to the date.

 

[SurgeDO]

COMBANK + UWorld + COMBANK COMAT for FM

Just out of curiosity, what is the motive to do well on these? I'd be surprised if future PDs took the time to read my LORs let alone my COMAT scores.

 

[dfib slim]

I don't know since I bought the COMAT bank for COMBANK and that's what I'm using. Saving the Level 2 stuff for a little closer to the date.

You try the AAFP Qs?

 

[Mr. Mojo Risin]

You try the AAFP Qs?

Not yet, but I plan to take a look at them at some point.

 

[NurWollen]

COMBANK + UWorld + COMBANK COMAT for FM

Just out of curiosity, what is the motive to do well on these? I'd be surprised if future PDs took the time to read my LORs let alone my COMAT scores.

At my school they make up 50% of your clerkship grade.