This volume serves as a comprehensive reference guide designed to assist family physicians in the selection and administration of pharmacological treatments for common clinical conditions. Editor Edwin S. Geffner compiles clinical data and drug profiles to provide a structured resource for primary care practitioners. The text organizes therapeutic information to facilitate quick decision-making in a clinical setting, focusing on standard practices prevalent during the late 1980s.

Medical professionals often utilize this text as a historical reference for understanding the standard of care in late 20th-century family medicine. Experts note that while the clinical data is dated, the organizational structure remains a useful example of medical compendium design.