Background: Previous studies have suggested an association between reasoning strategies and diagnostic success, but the influence on this relationship of variables such as question format and task difficulty, has not been studied. Our objective was to study the association between question format, task difficulty, reasoning strategies and…

A survey of departments of internal medicine to assess information about requirements for ambulatory clinical experiences for medical students is discussed. The survey yielded information on status, reasons for ambulatory care training, characteristics, goals, structure, ratings, problems, and difficulties for students. (Author/MLW)

The Waldo General Hospital Podiatric Residency Program, designed to be an intense, "well-rounded," multifaceted, single year of postgraduate practical training for the podiatric physician, is described. Surgical training, internal medicine, "outside rotations," in-hospital rotations, and meetings and lectures are discussed. A…

Questionnaires were sent to the directors of combined residency programs in internal medicine and pediatrics. All the programs emphasized training in primary care and included the use of outpatient clinics where residents often work with nonphysician health care providers. (Author/MLW)

Medical records of older outpatients treated at 15 university teaching hospitals were reviewed to evaluate how their medical problems were managed in university-based internal medicine practices. The finding suggests either that these patients were extremely atypical or that their geriatric problems were unrecognized. (Author/MLW)

The contribution of private physicians to medical student education in ambulatory care was determined by a questionnaire directed to departments of family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics in U.S. medical schools. Departments of family practice were most likely to offer ambulatory care courses. (Author/MLW)

Some of the programs in general internal medicine are now reaching the point at which surveys of graduates can help assess program strengths and weaknesses. A survey of graduates from the University of Colorado School of Medicine is described. (MLW)

A pilot study is described that was designed to make medical students' early professional contact with the elderly occur with those who are well enough to function as independently living individuals. The students felt the teaching value of the experience equaled or exceeded that of their experience with hospitalized patients. (MLW)

A successful approach to improving a residency training program in internal medicine had residents, attending physicians, and administrators use a consensus-building method to develop problem lists ranked by two criteria (high importance and high potential for solution), for which short- and long-term management interventions were created. (MSE)

A study in a medical center investigated the feasibility of primary care practices combining internal medicine and pediatrics residencies. Equally divided among children and adults, the patients had sought specialists and were highly satisfied. The physicians had appeal particularly to young upper-middle class patients. (Author/MSE)

All U.S. internal medicine residency programs were surveyed in 1981-82 to obtain quantitative information on specific program features, formal teaching conferences, supervision of residents, and evaluation of residents in ambulatory care. (Author/MLW)

The organization and curricula of internal medicine residencies programs that emphasize primary care are described and compared with traditional residencies in internal medicine. It is noted that primary care residents spend more time in ambulatory care and are allowed more electives in specialties outside of internal medicine. Out-of-hospital…

A survey of all 1987 graduates (n=112) of all U.S. combined programs found patient care as the major current involvement, with most subjects seeing patients in both pediatric and adult age groups and in primary care only. Perceived deficiencies and preferences in rotation types and quantity were also analyzed. (Author/MSE)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine is described, focusing on personnel and organization, educational programs, clinical and research activities, special programs, finances, and related issues and pressures. The program is proposed as a model for other institutions. (MSE)

A comparison of patient (n=181) and tutor (n=31) evaluations of medical student (n=41) behavior in an internal medicine clerkship revealed difficulties with patient evaluation of students. The process is time consuming and introduces tension between students and patients, and patients are poor discriminators. (Author/MSE)