A method of informally interviewing parents of children who have died or are seriously ill--before a small group of medical students in pediatric rotations--helps to sensitize students to parent attitudes, needs, and grief patterns, and gives a longitudinal perspective of the physician's role and the disease process. (MSE)

A collaborative program of training and research between Cornell University Medical College and the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil is described, including the formation, organization, objectives, and research activities. The major factors which contributed to the program's exceeding the expectations of the participating institutions are…

Despite evidence of increased interest among medical students in entering family practice, concern for the needs of the chronically ill and aged still seems to be largely absent in medical schools and students have negative attitudes toward them. Restructuring of medical education is necessary to promote more concern. (LBH)

Medicine needs a revised conceptual framework: biologic concepts need to be joined with concepts stemming from social, economic, governmental, and cultural phenomena. Health should be understood in sociocultural and behavioral as well as biological terms. (MLW)

The goals of research, it is suggested, must reflect the needs of the times. Recent research showing that much disease and illness may be preventable is the impetus for government sponsorship of health promotion/disease prevention activities in the medical community. (MLW)

A study is presented that documents widespread unfamiliarity with traditional health beliefs among 30 residents who had been caring for Mexican patients in a Southern California clinic for periods ranging from one to three years. It is suggested that formal curricular material on health beliefs and practices should be provided. (MLW)

Medication noncompliance is seen as an obstacle to successful clinical outcomes of many diseases. An exercise for preclinical medical students at Stanford University is described. Objectives include sensitizing students to the consequences of medication noncompliance, illustrating problems, and evaluating a number of compliance-related issues.…

A film describing tachypea as an early manifestation of congenital heart disease was shown to physicians and nurses at 27 hospitals during regular continuing medical education activities. Findings from pre-test and post-test data show that need-oriented educational programs can measurably improve the quality of patient care. (Author/LBH)

Considered were attitudes toward (1) the patient's inner resources to cope with a serious illness such as cancer, (2) the value of early diagnosis, and (3) the value of aggressive treatment, as well as the belief in immortality and preparation for and acceptance of death. Changes occurred throughout medical school, especially during the clinical…

Unexpected absences from work among residents cause scheduling difficulties and stress among residents. University of Rochester internal medicine and pediatric residents recorded the days they had been absent from work and provided their opinions regarding the stress these absences caused and the effectiveness for the sick-call system. (Author/MLW)

A practical psychiatric experience for future nonpsychiatrists developed as part of a traditional medical student inpatient psychiatry clerkship is described. Weekly student conferences focus on the most complex cases encountered. The practical, interactional techniques used have helped reduce students' initial anxiety. (MSE)

A course is described that focuses on concepts and dynamics of family life cycle relating to medical practice, including the relationship of cycle stages to onset, development, and treatment of illness, transition points in the cycle, the role of stress, and the risk for illness among family members. (Author/MSE)

Medical, pharmacy, and nursing students participated in a course on pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics of common pediatric bacterial and viral diseases during their rotation in infectious diseases. Student attitudes were highly positive, and substantial knowledge gain resulted. This interdisciplinary clinical approach is recommended to…

A study designed to assess knowledge of biostatistics and epidemiology relevant to medical literature and administered to internists and medical house staff at a teaching hospital is assessed. The results of the study suggest that knowledge of basic biostatistics and of study design is important for reading medical literature. (Author/MLW)

Occupational and environmental health programs are beginning to be developed in many medical schools. The attitudes of medical school deans on their past experiences, current plans, and thoughts for the future for occupational and environmental health were surveyed and are described. (MLW)