Arab Board Family Medicine Part 1 study guide
Arab Board Family Medicine Part 1 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Arab Board of Family Medicine Part 1 is the written, single-best-answer examination that sits at the front of the Arab Board training pathway in family medicine. It is aimed at physicians who have entered, or are preparing to enter, a family medicine residency or who are working toward Arab Board certification, and it functions as a knowledge gate before the later clinical and oral stages. The Arab Board Family Medicine Part 1 study guide has 9 sections and about 2,603 words.
01Internal Medicine for the Family Physician
The family physician is examined on common adult disease managed in the community, not on tertiary subspecialty detail. Prioritise: hypertension and its complications; type 2 diabetes including complications screening; ischaemic heart disease and heart failure; asthma and COPD overlap; thyroid disease; anaemia; chronic kidney disease staging by eGFR; and acid-base and electrolyte interpretation.
295 words, about 1 min02Pediatrics: Growth, Development and Common Illness
Focus on growth monitoring, developmental milestones, immunisation schedules, and the high-frequency paediatric presentations: fever, respiratory illness (bronchiolitis, croup, asthma), gastroenteritis and dehydration, otitis media, and neonatal jaundice. Also know red flags for serious illness in a febrile child and the approach to failure to thrive.
299 words, about 1 min03Obstetrics and Gynecology in Primary Care
Antenatal care, common complications of pregnancy, contraception counselling, abnormal uterine bleeding, cervical screening, and menopause management dominate. Also know ectopic pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes screening, and postpartum care.
269 words, about 1 min04Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties for the Family Doctor
Emphasis is on recognising surgical emergencies, appropriate referral, and postoperative care: acute abdomen, appendicitis, cholecystitis, bowel obstruction, hernia complications, and wound management. Also know common outpatient surgical problems (piles, abscesses, lumps) and when to refer urgently.
263 words, about 1 min05Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, psychosis, substance misuse, and suicide risk assessment are core. Know the diagnostic criteria, first-line treatments, and when to refer to specialist mental health services.
247 words, about 1 min06Preventive Medicine
Screening principles, immunisation, lifestyle counselling, and risk stratification dominate. Know the criteria for a valid screening test and the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
256 words, about 1 min07Public Health and Epidemiology
Study design, measures of association, outbreak investigation, and health systems are tested. Know incidence versus prevalence, relative risk versus odds ratio, and the interpretation of confidence intervals.
264 words, about 1 min08Emergency and Acute Care
Prioritise the ABCDE approach, recognition of life-threatening conditions, and safe disposition. Know anaphylaxis, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, sepsis, asthma exacerbation, and diabetic emergencies.
225 words, about 1 min09Basic and Clinical Sciences Applied to Family Medicine
Anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and microbiology are tested in their clinical application. Focus on mechanisms that explain bedside findings: acid-base physiology, fluid compartments, drug mechanisms and interactions, and common pathogens.
485 words, about 2 min