Surveyed directors of internal medicine (IM) and family practice (FP) residency programs regarding the format, content, and quantity of psychosocial training in their programs, their opinions on topics related to such training, and program demographics. Found considerable variation in content and time devoted to psychosocial training within and…

Interviewed physician educators in family medicine to discover variables that draw them into education and sustain their vitality, and challenges that can support or derail their careers. Found that career decisions emanate from values associated with "making the world better"; that they seek challenging positions consistent with these values; and…

Results of two certification examinations were analyzed for the cohorts of physicians who had taken in-training examinations as first, second, and third year residents. Multiple regression analysis showed that the composite score and all but one part-score were independently predictive of performance on the certification examination. (Author/MLW)

This introduction to a journal supplement on education of the generalist physician describes the supplement's goal of capturing "in a qualitative way, the richness and complexity of primary care education and its place within the much larger context of health care and medical education reform." (JDD)

In a documentation system designed to monitor medical student progress in clerkships at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, students completed an optical scan card for each patient seen, eliciting information on the patient and the experience. Results highlight students' lack of certain experiences and allow comparison of student…

A program at an inner-city community health center involving 20 family practice residents provided an educational intervention concerning the use of laboratory tests based on quality of care, not cost containment. During the program, the use of thyroid stimulating hormone test declined, while complete blood counts ordered did not. (MSE)

A study comparing inpatient care costs of family practice residencies and other residency programs found that family practice residencies do not add to direct inpatient costs and may even reduce costs. It is suggested that this provides an additional rationale for institutions to sponsor graduate training in family practice. (Author/MSE)

The effects of completing a nutrition counseling curriculum at the University of Manitoba were investigated by sending a questionnaire to two groups of physicians--one group who had completed the nutrition curriculum and a group that had not. The two groups reported counseling practices that were not significantly different. (Author/MLW)

A system of medical classification based on the dimensions of body system, etiology, and stage of disease was evaluated by classifying the content of one specialty board's examinations. This classification system may allow a board to define the content of its examinations, monitor requirements for certification, and communicate its standards.…

Five medical school characteristics previously identified as related to choice of family practice as a specialty were examined, with tuition level, for relationship to specialty choice among U.S. medical graduates between July 1986 and December 1987. Only two of the factors were found to be statistically relevant. (Author/MSE)

Surveys were mailed to a sample of Michigan internists and family practitioners (N=2060). This study examined influences on (1) how confident physicians feel about treating a particular problem, (2) where they look for assistance and advice, and (3) what level of continued involvement in the patient's care they prefer. (MLW)

Discusses the role of departments of family medicine in teaching preventive medicine through required clinical experiences, required nonclinical courses, electives, collaborative interdisciplinary clerkships, and interdisciplinary nonclinical courses. Offers examples of innovative programs at the Universities of Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont,…

A 1993-94 mailed survey of 490 residents in U.S. Army graduate medical education programs asked the respondents to rank the most helpful and least helpful faculty teaching behaviors, based on the 38 teaching behaviors identified by Wolverton and Bosworth. Found a high degree of concordance in the rankings by primary care and nonprimary care…

Examined the effectiveness of family practice residency programs at 12 medical schools that allowed students to complete their first year of residency during their fourth year of school. Found that accelerated residents performed better than their nonaccelerated peers and national norms on the American Board of Family Practice in-training and…

Because family medicine residency programs have been in the forefront of nutrition instruction, a nationwide survey of these programs was conducted to examine the nature, staffing, and funding mechanisms for nutrition education. Results of the survey indicate that registered dietitians were available to 89 percent of the programs. (Author/MLW)