This study was designed to determine whether opportunities exist to reduce patient morbidity and health care costs by utilizing health care services before diseases progress to advanced stages. Hospital admissions were categorized based on the timing of the initial hospitalizations of patients admitted with any of 14 diagnoses. (Author/MLW)

A study investigated the degree to which enhancement of instruction in blood transfusion medicine (TM) in the medical school curriculum is reflected in performance on 1989-90 National Board of Medical Examiners examinations in comparison with 1984-85. Students performed better on TM-related items than on items generally in 1989-90, suggesting more…

A survey of 149 entering first-year medical residents concerning experiences with and knowledge of infection control investigated occurrence and patterns of accidental needle-sticking and reporting, student immunization for Hepatitis B, and instruction in universal precautions. It is concluded that students are at risk for needle-sticking, but…

A survey of 1991 and 1994 graduating medical school students at medical schools (N=175) in Colorado, New Mexico and South Dakota found that differences in prevalence of AIDS/HIV cases in those states did not affect schools' training programs but indirectly affected students' knowledge and attitudes, which were related to the numbers of…

A telephone survey of 42 medical schools in areas of high, medium, and low incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) investigated school policies concerning prevention and reporting of HIV infection, confidentiality, screening, limiting clinical activities, counseling, vaccination, prophylactic drug administration, and disability and health…

The study compared the diagnoses determined by 200 adult autopsies performed in 1968 and 200 autopsies 20 years later. Analysis indicated few changes in variety of case material despite declining autopsy rates and a changing racial mix of patients. Recommendations for maximizing the teaching impact of each autopsy are offered. (Author/DB)

A study examined the attitudes of 227 faculty and 148 house physicians toward the value of touching patients and their relationship to sociodemographic and job characteristics, previous exposure to and concern about human immunodeficiency virus infections, and attitudes toward glove-wearing. (MSE)

A survey of student affairs deans at 108 medical schools found most schools required hepatitis vaccination, evidence of immunity, or waiver refusing vaccination. Nearly all required health insurance, and usually offered a plan, but fewer offered disability insurance. Schools often held students responsible for costs of vaccination, serologic…

A study investigated whether medical residents' compliance with guidelines for health promotion and disease prevention improved after exposure to a revised curriculum over three years. Chart audits indicate that, although compliance increased during the first year, activities returned to baseline levels thereafter, despite continued exposure to…

A survey of Canadian and United States medical schools (n=98) on the uses and value of autopsy revealed that uses extend far beyond traditional ones to legal/judicial proceedings, vital statistics, epidemiological investigations, and public health and aid in understanding such complex matters as medical fallibility, medical uncertainty, and grief.…

The objectives of this preliminary study were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using trained simulated patient instructors (N=6) as an office-based continuing medical education method and to assess the current sexually transmitted diseases/human immunodeficiency virus risk assessment and counseling practices of primary care…

The American Medical Student Association's Nutrition Curriculum Project assembled a 10-member advisory board to develop a comprehensive list of nutrition topics deemed essential for the adequate training of physicians. The resulting 92 topics are divided into 5 major categories: (1) biochemistry/physiology/pathophysiology; (2) nutrition…