A study assessed the usefulness of unannounced standardized patients to assess the skills of 284 physicians enrolled in a continuing medical education program in control of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus. Significant discrepancies were found between physician-reported performance and actual performance, as found in…

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 study assessed the effectiveness of a weekly outpatient clinic for staging and triage of newly identified human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV)-infected patients on 21 medical residents' attitudes and knowledge regarding HIV patient care, as compared with 20 control students. Results indicated that the experience positively affected student…

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 nationwide network of clinics to educate health care providers about clinical aspects of sexually transmitted diseases has succeeded and led to development of a 13-clinic network for training in the clinical, epidemiological, psychological, and social aspects of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), drawing on the earlier clinic…

A successful seven-day course offered to third-year medical students is an integrated program for teaching them how to deal with terminal illness. The course uses lectures, audiovisual aids, and group and individual sessions to enhance self-awareness and practical application of the material in a clinical setting. (Author/MSE)

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…

A study investigated the effectiveness of and student perceptions of a medical school curriculum segment on universal precautions against blood-borne diseases and techniques of phlebotomy and intravenous insertion using universal precautions. Additional voluntary training was offered. Results indicate the training significantly improved student…

Suggested resources for planning and creating curricula in disease prevention and health promotion in medical schools are grouped into three categories: (1) national initiatives (such as the "Healthy People 2010" and "Put Prevention Into Practice" programs); (2) teaching immunization (including materials for physicians and nurses); and (3) key…

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)

It is proposed that, contrary to existing views, medical expertise is not as much a matter of superior reasoning skills or in-depth knowledge of pathophysiological states as it is based on cognitive structures describing the features of prototypical or actual patients. Evidence supporting the theory is examined. (Author/MSE)

Current problems in health care delivery, including inadequate access to care and high costs, and potential solutions are examined. Additional emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention, increased biomedical research, the dissemination and implementation of findings, and better physician preparation to deal with the problems are…

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)