This article discusses barriers to development of a system of community-based clinical training sites for optometric residencies (concerns about costs, program quality, sufficient patient care experiences, meeting accreditation standards); ways to overcome them; benefits of community-based residencies; and the role of the Association of Schools…

Comparison and analysis of the restorative treatment recommendations made by dentists and dental school students for 63 patients found about 85% agreement on treatment plans. It is observed that the results provide some basis on which to assess how well dental school treatments reflect mainstream practice. (MSE)

This paper contends that liberal education is a critical foundation for development of clinical judgment skills required for professional nursing practice, that nursing students need to see human experience from more than one point of view, and that incorporation of professional education in a liberal arts university enriches all students. (MSE)

A study compared results of 2 teaching methods, traditional Socratic method (22 students) and a problem-based curriculum (35 students) in a University of Kentucky medical school surgery clerkship. Results showed the problem-based method resulted in similar knowledge level but improved clinical problem-solving skills. (Author/MSE)

The McMaster University (Canada) undergraduate medical program participated in a nine-school self-study of clinical evaluation. Comparison of top-ranked problems found lack of transmission of evaluative information from one clerkship unit to subsequent ones to be a common problem. Faculty unwillingness to record negative evaluations was exclusive…

A study of medical clerkship students' time allocations found the greatest time expenditures in personal activities, then organized educational activities (rounds, conferences, lectures, chartwork, patient contact, examination study, ancillary activities, procedures, and directed study. Students slept 5.8 hours per night. Better balance of patient…

Analysis of the internal medicine clinical rotations of 43 University of Michigan medical students revealed that students saw many kinds of medical problems but few instances of each and that there were wide gaps in exposure to some typical ambulatory care problems. Student skill gains did not correlate with problem types encountered. (MSE)

A survey of 252 dental students in three schools measured student satisfaction with (1) the patient care system in the dental school clinic; and (2) the responsibilities of the attending faculty, who manage 10-student teams. Results indicated general satisfaction but point to some problems in individual situations. (MSE)

A study of stress, coping, depression, and somatic distress among students (n=69) in a University of Mississippi psychiatry clerkship found clinical levels of depression in almost one-fourth of the group and high levels of somatic distress in over one-half. Coping strategies appeared useful to students, and training in coping is recommended.…

Despite some efforts, dental education is not succeeding at creating socially responsible, service-oriented professionals. Further research should be undertaken on the effectiveness of various forms of community health services, improving service to underserved populations, the perceptions of the underserved, clinical experience with health teams,…

A survey gathered information on methods of class II amalgam preparation taught in 59 dental schools. Focus was on the teaching and testing of proximal retention groove use, stated rationale for placing retention grooves, and the relationship of the instruction to board criteria for cavity preparation. (MSE)

A study of a medical student clinical assessment program since 1986 at the University of Massachusetts indicates student awareness of increased faculty observation and increased feedback to students during and following clinical rotations. Results indicate a conscious faculty effort to improve students' clinical skills by improved observation and…

A study identified variables perceived by clinical medical faculty (n=20) to influence the ease or difficulty of teaching in the ambulatory care setting. Characteristics affecting the teaching situation included teacher, student, and patient characteristics. Implications for faculty development on teaching in the clinical setting are discussed.…

Strategies used at several medical schools to address common issues in ambulatory care clerkship programs are presented. These include institutional and policy concerns (institutional resistance, financing, faculty incentives), administrative and implementation problems (logistics, faculty recruitment, student recruitment/placement), and…

A description is provided of the development and evaluation of a preceptorship program for nursing students at Red Deer College (Alberta). Introductory remarks describing the decision to initiate a preceptorship program in January, 1982, are followed by a section discussing the need for a preceptorship program to provide senior students with…