CCFP EXAM STUDY TIPS

Just posted this video on Fibromyalgia Diagnosis and Treatment - you can check it out here! -Simon Injections Alone Aren't Adequate: You Need A Joint Approach Do your patients believe a knee injection will fix their arthritis forever? A fresh 2026 CMAJ review clarifies that intra-articular glucocorticoids are strictly a short-term pain management strategy. They provide about 2 to 6 weeks of relief rather than any lasting structural modification. This distinction matters deepl

New video alert! PCOS has been renamed. If you haven't seen it already, check it out here. -Simon Leg-endary advice for your next RLS patient Insomnia is never just insomnia, and if your review of systems includes an irresistible urge to move the limbs, a 2026 review in the Journal of the American Medical Association provides some useful updates. Restless Leg Disorder affects 3% of adult patients and carries real risks beyond the lower limbs: cardiovascular disease, depressio

One side note I thought you'd love before we get into the new Alcohol guidelines. Until this video I have never had so many colleagues stop me in clinic or send me messages about one of my online videos. It has taken away the pain of fundoscopy for so many people - check it out if you haven't yet. -Simon Don't get CAGEd by old habits Are your screening tools for Alcohol Use Disorder outdated? Many of us still rely on older, lengthier questionnaires that often miss the target.

Have you ever splinted a mallet finger and wondered if you got it right? Check out our new video on mallet finger mistakes right here! -Simon Kids with Fever: Always look for these Covered Recently in CPS and CFP Journal (See our YouTube summary on Kawasaki's disease) Fever for five days? Don't just hand over the acetaminophen and send the patient home. This history or triage note should trigger an automatic thought: KAWASAKI. Do you know the CRASH and BURN mnemonic that shou

"I HAD NO IDEA that switch existed!" Watch the video here For years, I hated fundoscopy. It seems I'm not the only one. It was uncomfortable for the patient. Frustrating for me. And despite being taught repeatedly how to use a direct ophthalmoscope, I still felt like I could barely see anything useful. Then I realized something important: We’ve been taught fundoscopy the wrong way. After years of trial and error, I've been teaching my residents the 5-step fundoscopy system th

Putting my Global Health fellowship to good use presenting on Immigrant Health to UBC residents. -Simon Don't let this diagnosis tick you off. Stop waiting for the rash. When Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RSMF) is on your differential, delaying treatment while you wait for laboratory confirmation can lead to devastating clinical outcomes. A recent CMAJ review from 2026 highlights that human cases are rare but endemic in parts of Canada. Early recognition requires a high inde

Lots of prep getting ready for our Summer events - updating course manuals and slide decks - hope to see you there! -Simon and Paul May the "forest" be with you. Patients will soon be asking you about their thinning hair. This is covered in an article from CMAJ, published in 2026. Female Pattern Hair Loss is a common, nonscarring condition. Prevalence increases significantly with age. One in four patients has symptoms by age 50. Up to half are affected by age 70. Pop quiz: A

We're not ovary-acting. Ovarian cysts are so last decade... plus they never really were an actual part of this diagnosis, anyway The old name for this condition is officially dead (well, being phased out); start using "Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome" instead. A massive global consensus report appeared in The Lancet on May 12, 2026 with the update and the 56 organizations that agreed to the change. This helps patients understand that their symptoms involve far more

Thanks to the UBC family medicine residents for hosting me at their site academic half day - got some great clips of fundoscopy for our upcoming video! -Simon Let's crush this topic! I've seen some patients in clinic with extreme pain from this diagnosis…and others are asymptomatic! A patient presents with acute back pain after simply turning in bed or sneezing. We looked at an American Family Physician article published in 2026 on this topic. The High-Yield Takeaway: Most fr

We had a blast at SRPC’s Rural and Remote conference! This event is always one of our yearly highlights, and we really enjoyed meeting you in person! -Simon and Paul A smear campaign we can actually get behind. Patients with a cervix will soon be asking for a swab every five years instead of three. This shift marks a major change in preventive health. The primary goal is to eliminate cervical cancer in Canada by 2040. The high-yield takeaways: Start screening at age 25. Prio

Honoured to have presented at the Manitoba IMGs Academic Half Day a few weeks ago and to have connected with such an incredible community. And to those who just finished the CCFP exam, what a milestone. You did it! -Simon Patients will soon be asking you for clarity on vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks, especially after a 2025 American Family Physician article updated our approach to these high-stakes emergencies. Bleeding amount ≠ seriousness. Abruption triad is rare. Antenata

What an amazing time spent co-teaching at UBC last week. It was pretty surreal being back in the same lecture hall where I went to medical school! -Simon Dad always said, "Take a deep breath," but for some neonates, that’s easier said than done. A 2026 American Family Physician article highlights that while 10% of neonates need respiratory support at birth, 5% require more than just a quick dry and stimulation. 10% admission rate: Transient tachypnea of the newborn is a lead

At some point over the past few months of preparing for the CCFP exam, things may have felt overwhelming. But you kept going. That matters more than anything. No matter how you’re feeling right now (prepared, nervous, somewhere in between) we're rooting for you. Best of luck on the exam, you've got this! -Simon and Paul Don't be a "heel"—wait for the swelling to settle. Your next patient may limp in after a weekend of "giving it their all" at the local pickleball court. A 202

Why We Are Selling Our $1,241 Course For $10 … one time only You may have seen an e-mail from us this morning promoting an exam prep course for $10 (usual price is $1241). Please accept our apologies for any confusion. It should be $10 (ten dollars). That’s right, it’s not a prank. And yes, this discount is available to all R1 and R2 residents enrolled in a Canadian Family Medicine residency program. If you saw our email this morning and thought it was an April Fools' joke,

With Vital FM Update in Toronto wrapping up last weekend, our spring events have officially come to a close. It was an incredible experience travelling across Canada and connecting with so many of you. We’re already looking forward to seeing everyone again at Vital FM Update this summer! -Simon and Paul My brain has a plumbing problem, and it’s not the pipes you think. As the 2026 CMAJ article highlights, we need to rethink our approach to the "atypical" headache to consider

With just a few weeks to go before the exam, I know you are feeling the heat. I have taught a few resident groups in BC and Ontario this month and have heard how stressful it is studying for the 2026 Hybrid Exam. Hopefully the update below will give a boost to your studying, and keep up the good work! - Simon Wrist management that won't make you snap. As the 2026 Canadian Family Physician "Tools for Practice" article highlights, we might be over-treating one of our most commo

We're in Calgary this weekend for Vital FM Update, and the update below is one that we've included in our lectures. -Paul & Simon Fatigue. Brain fog. Poor concentration. Morning headaches. When patients complain they “just aren’t sleeping,” it’s tempting to reach for lifestyle advice. No, you can't just prescribe a louder alarm clock. For many patients, the problem isn’t waking up; it’s never getting restorative sleep in the first place. As a 2026 Canadian Family Physician ar

If your patient is hearing their own voice in "surround sound," it's time to talk about the tube. As a 2025 CMAJ article highlights, Eustachian tube dysfunction is a common but often mismanaged hurdle in primary care. Affects ~5% of adults Often follows infection or allergy Overlapping symptoms with TMJ dysfunction Before scrolling down, ask yourself: On a SAMP, which physical exam finding warrants an immediate referral to Otolaryngology to rule out malignancy? Most cases

Gluten-free: it’s everywhere! But just because you see it on nearly every restaurant menu and grocery store aisle, celiac disease is still underdiagnosed. In a 2025 CMAJ article, Celiac disease was highlighted as the most common autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. Global seroprevalence: 1%–2% Canadian incidence rising: 6% annually Classic GI symptoms: only 30% POP QUIZ: What itchy pathognomonic rash is associated with up to 17% of patients with celiac? The "class

Don't let your patient's muscles "ghost" them. As the 2025 Canadian Family Physician article highlights, we must look beyond the scale. Semaglutide averages 15% weight loss. Tirzepatide averages 20% weight loss. Lean mass loss is 24-40%. Stop & Think: Before scrolling down, ask yourself: On a SAMP, what are the two mandatory lifestyle interventions you must pair with GLP-1 agonists to prevent sarcopenia? We often celebrate a lower BMI, but rapid loss comes with a hidden cost