Physiotherapy January 2001/vol 87/no 1

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Book reviews

Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh2000 (ISBN 0 443 06283 8). 140 pages

By Shane A Thomas £12.95The title of this book would suggest another dry addition tothe library shelves. This is not the case. Seldom have I readwith more enjoyment a research book from cover to cover.You might think: ‘How sad!’ However, I must confess that itwas a really useful, sensible and amusing read. This bookcovers all the points that researchers, students andsupervisors either need to know or have all experienced.

The book begins with setting the ground rules. So oftenthis is where research, supervisory practice and relationshipsbetween researcher and supervisor falter. Shane Thomastalks with clarity about the relationship and expectations ofthe researcher and supervisor with the common sense andease of someone who has obviously seen it all before. Notonly does he discuss how to establish good relationships buthe also discusses the possibility of their breakdown, how toavoid it and what to do if things are terminal. After all, it iseasy when everything is OK. It is when things get out of handthat we need to advise.

The writing of the thesis is covered really well, quotationsbeing used to emphasise the points. Any student orsupervisor who reads this book will find out quickly, easilyand without fuss or fancy words what should be included in

each section of the thesis and how their own study should bewritten up. Shane Thomas is also comfortable in thereporting of both qualitative and quantitative researchmethods and gives advice on both.

This book is realistic. Often research texts set out thedefinition of perfection and then just leave it to the reader.This book tells you what is required and how to go about it,and then reminds you that ‘the aim is to get your degree’,not necessarily to be a world shattering rocket scientist.

There are a few small areas that could have been dealtwith in more depth. The storage, sorting and retrieval ofpersonally evaluated literature can be managed successfullyon personal computers and this could have been covered inmore depth. Also the section on results might have includedmore about how to be selective regarding tests and graphs.On the whole, however, this book is concise and yetcomprehensive and sensible.

The following paragraph about the conclusion of a thesistypifies the tenor of the book. I am sure it will ring a bell withanyone who has written a thesis or a report, or has had toread … well, I’ve lost count how many.

‘Do not worry about the readers being bored, if they hadwanted excitement they would be reading a thrillerinstead of your thesis. After 200 pages of academicmeandering they need to be reminded of the plot.’

This is a book to buy. ‘The truth is not out there’, it’s inthis wee book!

Elizabeth Crothers PhD MCSP

How to Write Health SciencesPapers, Dissertations and Theses

Motor Neurone Disease Association, David Niven House,10-15 Notre Dame Mews, Northampton NN1 2PRJune 2000, 40 pages £10 plus p and pTherapists familiar with motor neurone disease willappreciate the drawing together of information about thisneuro degenerative condition that has about the sameincidence as multiple sclerosis. The resource is divided intosections which can be removed as well as added to. Theformat is clear and concise, but occasionally repeats itself.The respiratory section has clear text and diagrams on themechanism of respiration.

Respiratory failure in MND and its current management is discussed, ie NIPPV/BIPAP. The current debate abouttracheostomy is touched upon. The section on choking fails

to cover the fact that physiotherapists can advise on suctionand supported cough in this instance. Collars are stated aspossibly impeding swallowing. This is a common concern.However, in our team’s experience, it can be addressed inmost cases by ‘off the shelf’ collars. Where a more complexengineering solution is required for head positioning, theopinion of a medical physicist may be required.

In addition to the resource file there is available a ProblemSolving in MND leaflet. This is simply a list of practicalsolutions to the problems caused by MND. It is by no meanscomprehensive but would provide an excellent reference forprimary care teams.

In summary, we believe that the resource file has value in establishing a baseline of knowledge. However, moreexperienced teams will probably wish to add their own localstandards and protocols.

Adrian Robertson GradDipPhys MCSP and the Motor Neurone Outreach Team at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield

MND Resource FileA patient and carer centred approach forhealth and social care professionals.

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