A study of 406 Brown University (Rhode Island) medical students found slightly over half had undergraduate majors in science or mathematics, a third majored in the humanities or social sciences, and a tenth had double majors or independent concentrations. No statistically significant difference was found between medical school performances of the…

Discusses some current theories of learning motivation and describes how they may relate to the education of physicians, noting frequent disparities between medical schools' stated goals for learners and what is actually taught or rewarded by faculty. While motivation is multifaceted, there are strategies that may be used to strengthen students'…

Over 18 months, Medical College of Wisconsin students identified what they had learned during their clerkships in each of seven learning settings; the 3,030 outcomes were divided into 48 categories, and the ten most-frequent learning outcomes are reported. No significant differences by time of year or rural vs. urban clerkships were found.…

A survey of 575 family-medicine patients in academic and community settings found most willing to have a medical student involved in their health care. One-third reported that students did at least part of the physical examination. Many patients said they would appreciate a medical student's attention. Almost half perceived that student…

Examines two myths or misperceptions associated with premedical education, that of the "premedical syndrome" (over-achieving, competitive, cynical, and narrowly focused students), and the "cutthroat medical student" (competitive to the point of undermining others). The origins of the myths, the purposes they may serve, why they…

U.S. Schweitzer Fellows Programs support over 100 health professions students annually in six locations. Fellows participate in activities designed to strengthen the ideals that attracted them to health care. Program alumni report that their experiences integrate their own ideals into professional and career development. Such programs may…

A study compared the breast cancer screening knowledge of 27 medical students in first and fourth years. In the fourth year additional questions were asked about training and training needs. Although students performed significantly better on knowledge-based questions in the fourth year, considerable room for improvement remained. Most students…

Two Dartmouth Medical School (New Hampshire) medical students and their faculty sponsor collaborated to develop an elective course in women's health. Development and implementation of this course and the process by which it was later made part of the required curriculum are described. The success of the effort highlights the crucial role students…

Discusses the medical student characteristics associated with graduates' entering generalist careers, including initial specialty preference, geographic background, gender, age, ethnicity, economic/lifestyle factors, attitudes and personal values, service orientation, and premedical academic performance. Presents strategies medical schools can use…

Surveys of faculty and graduating students at 125 medical schools found that by 1998 the schools, collectively, had made little progress in accomplishing recommended educational technology goals; there was much more use of technology in basic science courses than in clinical clerkships. Great variability was found across schools in the uses of…

This 1988-89 survey of 319 students in the medical, dental, nursing, and allied health-care professions revealed that over one-third had reservations about treating AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients. Unwillingness to treat AIDS patients was strongly associated with homophobic attitudes. Education should emphasize methods for the…

A study investigated outcomes of a University of California, Davis medical school two-day course on managed care on 428 medical students, residents, faculty, and physician-administrators. Results indicate that, before the course, baseline levels of knowledge were low among faculty and trainees, and attitudes combined negativism and wishful…

A scale designed to measure professional attitudes and behaviors associated with the medical education and residency training environment was pilot-tested by 529 medical students and residents in five institutions. The scale's internal reliability was relatively high, and factor analysis revealed three subscales. Results are interpreted as an…

Because of declining participation, the National Health Service Corps' role in improving rural access to primary health care has shifted from placement of scholarship-obligated professionals to recruitment of volunteers and increased emphasis on retention of current providers. Successful care systems include group practices, community-oriented…

Discusses leadership and governance issues in implementing curricular reform at eight medical schools participating in a large-scale medical curriculum development project. Attention is given to the definition of leadership, characteristics of successful leaders, management of resistance to change, the role of curriculum committees, the use of…