A study investigated possible differences in standardized patient examination scores for three groups of undergraduate (n=176) and graduate (n=221) medical students assessed at different sites over two years. Results show no systematic change in scores over testing dates, suggesting no problems with breach of test security. (MSE)

A four-year study found that, between internships and the end of residencies at the Oregon Health Sciences University, physicians' attitudes about their careers and residency experiences improved significantly, suggesting that, although internships may be dysphoric, normalization of emotional states and attitudes occurs during residency.…

A follow-up study of 148 medical school graduates investigated the predictive value of medical college admissions data for choice of a generalist career (family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics). Factors indicating a high orientation toward community service before medical school were found predictive of generalist choices.…

This article briefly describes the four-year primary care program (beginning in the senior year of medical school and sponsored by the departments of internal medicine and family medicine) offered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine. Preliminary evidence indicates that the seven students and residents enrolled are…

A study compared scores on identical tests in internal medicine for two groups of graduating University of Toronto (Canada) medical students: those in a traditional, lecture-based curriculum (TC) and those in a redesigned curriculum with less didactic instruction and more clinical experience (NC). All comparisons showed a significantly higher…

The humanistic qualities of 70 University of Michigan first-year internal medicine residents were rated in 1987-88 and 1988-89 by patients, attending physicians, supervisors, and nurses. Results indicate that all four groups had different view of the humanistic attributes of residents in patient interactions. (Author/MSE)

A study of 28 medical residents' skills in evaluating research compared student evaluations of a journal article with 1 developed by means of a Delphi technique utilizing 5 experts. Residents' scores were not significantly associated with residency year or self-assessed critical appraisal skill. The method is proposed as an objective means of…

Three effective strategies for case-based teaching in clinical medicine are described: case-bedside teaching involving case discussion and bedside demonstration; a combination of quick case reviews with more formal presentations on relevant topics; and discovery learning using complex cases. Five general principles of experiential learning in…

This study examined self-assessments of 40 medical residents and competence expectations of 4 primary care internal medicine faculty and 10 medical specialty faculty. Specialty faculty members reported higher expectations for diagnostic performance than did faculty in primary care. Involvement of residents and faculty members in developing…

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of organizational changes in the general medicine clinic on residents' and patients' satisfaction, including their perceptions of the quality of care. Questionnaires to assess satisfaction were administered to the residents (N=80) and patients (N=577) using a pre- and posttesting design. (MLW)

Analysis of students' mean scores on two internal medicine clerkship tests at Wright State University investigated test sensitivity and specificity for identifying students with insufficient knowledge, and compared final examination pass rates of counseled and noncounseled students. Results indicate that in-clerkship tests can identify at-risk…

A study compared the performances of Wake Forest University (North Carolina) medical students rotating through an internal medicine program, 88 in a problem-based curriculum and 364 in a lecture-based curriculum. Students in the problem-based curriculum received significantly higher ratings from house staff and faculty on four clinical rating…

A study of six distinguished clinical teachers in internal medicine investigated how they made rapid instructional decisions in response to each case presentation in teaching rounds. Results indicated these characteristics: substantial planning before rounds; quick, simultaneous diagnosis of patient problems and learners' level of understanding;…

A questionnaire was administered to 339 graduating senior medical students at the Medical College of Georgia to determine different potential sources of influence on career choice. Indebtedness may be associated with the choice of a non-primary care specialty with greater remuneration than primary care specialty. (MLW)

It is proposed that medical schools recruit students from rural areas, have them choose family practice, and train them in rural settings. Specific recommendations for improving content and context of rural medical care education are made, including merging internal medicine, family practice, and pediatrics as a single primary care specialty.…