A survey of 121 internal medicine residents at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York) investigated students' career plans and decision timing, the effect on their residency of applying for a fellowship, and the timing of the fellowship process. Results indicate the current medical fellowship application system is generally experienced negatively. A…

The University of Hawaii developed an assessment and testing program for qualifying internal medicine residents in basic procedural skills: an observation period, a multiple-choice examination, and a slide-identification examination. The mean scores of both examinations were analyzed to assess whether curriculum changes were effective. (Author/MLW)

A survey of residents (N=323) in 6 internal medicine programs investigated the topics students wanted included in the medical ethics curriculum and by which of 17 methods they would prefer to be taught. About three-fourths had previous medical ethics instruction, and most wanted more on specific topics, especially legal and end-of-life issues.…

A study that demonstrated that a group of medical residents could independently run microcomputer-based patient simulations and subsequently achieve significant increases in test scores is discussed. This outcome supports the use of computer-assisted instruction to provide a core of self-taught material for a clinical subspecialty rotation.…

The goals, formats, and outcomes of journal clubs in a sample of internal medicine residency programs in New York City were surveyed. The results of the survey and a description of the club in the Department of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center are presented. (Author/MLW)

The demographic, diagnostic, and prognostic characteristics of patients treated by house staff members rotating through the general medical wards of the Houston Veterans Administration Medical Center was studied. The data indicate that VA hospitals make a significant contribution to internal medicine training. (Author/MLW)

An Albany Medical College program utilizes private internists' offices as sites for resident ambulatory education. The private practitioner is perceived as an excellent teacher and role model who provides a positive effect on the long-term career goals of residents. (MLW)

The resource manual provides guidelines and resources for individuals interested in integrating a substance abuse curriculum into existing programs for medical students and residents in internal medicine. Materials and resources appropriate for practicing physicians are also included. Three sections are: (1) a statement of minimum knowledge and…

A study of stress during residency training involved data analysis of questionnaires completed by residents and fellows in internal medicine. The results suggest that scheduling and structural changes in residencies are necessary to reduce stress in residents. (Author/MLW)

Physicians who completed residencies in internal medicine at major teaching hospitals in 1982 evaluated their residency training in ambulatory care. Their recommendations were similar to those reported in evaluation studies published over the past 25 years, indicating that training programs have not been successful in restructuring their…

A study of rotating interns' images of medical practitioners focuses on what images the interns have of obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians, internists, psychiatrists, and surgeons, and seeks to determine whether these images differ according to choice of specialty for postgraduate work. (JMD)

Over a 4-year period moral reasoning and performance data were studied on 350 resident pediatricians, internists, and practitioners of family medicine from seven different institutions. Clinical performance was measured by faculty ratings, and integrity (moral reasoning) was measured by Kohlberg's Standard of Moral Judgement Interview and Rest's…

The ways in which residents fulfill their teaching responsibilities were examined. First- and second-year internal medicine residents were observed as they reviewed cases during work rounds. The most frequently observed teaching behaviors were associated with patient care: providing a role model. (Author/MLW)

A cost containment program initiated in 1975 on the medical teaching service of Charlotte Memorial Hospital, a University of North Carolina affiliated hospital, has led to a significant improvement in hospital house staff utilization of facilities and procedures. In the outpatient setting an actual reduction in patient-encounter cost was realized…

Perceptions of students who would have elected a preceptorship rotation had it not been required were compared with those of students who participated only to fulfill the requirement. Both groups perceived an increase in knowledge of primary care practices and confidence in relevant clinical skills. (Author/LBH)