A national survey of schools of optometry suggests that acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) needs to be more thoroughly addressed in some curricula. Suggestions are made for curriculum development in the areas of public health, basic coursework, immunology, clinical medicine, psychology, ocular manifestations, and contact lenses. (MSE)

A report of the Association of American Medical Colleges' Project Panel on the General Professional Education of the Physician and College Preparation for Medicine is presented. The Panel affirms that all physicians require a common foundation of knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes. (MLW)

As nursing education moves from the traditional diploma school to the university, nursing programs have suffered from loss of the direct clinical practice and instruction that the hospital apprenticeships afforded. The author calls for better collaboration between service (clinical) and educational (theoretical) programs to improve the profession…

A University of Washington study investigated predictors of performance for 205 students in a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency. Results show clinical residency performance was predicted by clerkship honors grades, probation predicted by failing a basic science course, written board performance related to status with a medical…

Two pharmacy computer training laboratories were developed in Nebraska to facilitate student acquisition of computer skills for patient education prior to their clerkships at Nebraska Drug Information Network rural sites. Students' previous computer experience and computer use in delivering education during clerkships were assessed. Patterns in…

A study of 217 Stanford University (California) Medical School graduates found clerkship experience lengths from 12 to 23 months; the median was 18 months. A highly significant correlation was found between longer clinical training and higher scores on Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. Results suggest that decreasing…

Liberal learning and professional training both can be enhanced if humanities and nursing faculties will join in creating a larger vision of education. (Author/MLW)

A survey of 249 students at the State University of New York at Buffalo identified medical ethics issues arising during clinical training in professional norms, limits of intervention, defensive shielding of professional colleagues, respect toward patients, communication, and student boundaries. Concerns differed by student year, supporting…

A survey of 1,044 graduates of an entry-level PharmD program looked at preparation for practice, career outcomes, professional contributions, and job satisfaction, with special attention paid to effects related to gender and postgraduate residency training. Results affirm strong and positive influence of residency training on professional…

A study of 88 students in a problem-based surgery clerkship found significant gain in knowledge level, found to be linked to improved clinical performance. Additional findings included peers were good judges of students' knowledge and skills; faculty were not good judges of changes in student skills or ability to apply them. (MSE)

A study with about 280 Southern Illinois University senior medical students found that standardized patients felt male and female examinees generally performed equally well with respect to interpersonal and communication skills, except for female examinees' higher performance in personal manner. Patient gender was not an influence. (Author/MSE)

A study evaluated the feasibility of an objective structured clinical examination to assess the competence of foreign medical school graduates, clinical clerks, and interns to address clinical ethical situations. The University of Toronto's experience with the measure found it useful but in need of improvement. (MSE)

Carolinas Medical Center (North Carolina) initiated a behavioral training program for general practice dental residents to develop skills in handling patient anxiety/stress, obesity, and depression. The program includes monthly seminars, a clinical rotation in behavioral medicine with additional related seminars, and a month-long clinical rotation…

The Temple University (Pennsylvania) advanced general dentistry program includes seminars and clinical rotations in social work, to help students gain an appreciation and working knowledge of social workers' function in health care provision, to improve interpersonal skills, to interact with social workers, to address diversity issues, and to…

The University of Minnesota's required six-week ambulatory medicine clerkship provides a comprehensive orientation to ambulatory care through planned integration of patient care with academic work. Responses of both students and faculty have been enthusiastic, with the benefits compensating for high costs in preceptor time. (MSE)