It is suggested that, although family practice generally has no subspecialties, such subspecialization need not cause a major distortion in the traditional role of the family physician. Data gathered from profiles of two "model" practices support the thesis. (LBH)

A longitudinal study of students (n=70) entering Dartmouth Medical School (New Hampshire) in 1984 found attitudes toward family practice initially positive and improving. However, of 25 indicating early interest in family medicine, only 6 chose a related residency. Student concerns about the specialty's demands are seen as a possible factor.…

Defines and depicts graphically the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary care functions (from least to most intensified phases of medical care); ambulatory care (care of sick or well people not confined to bed); and family medicine (an emerging medical discipline focusing on complete and longterm care of the family). (JT)

The evolution of the family practitioner as a specialist to replace the general practitioner is described. The deficiencies of general practice have been remedied by providing intellectually rigorous postgraduate programs, a unique area of expertise, and specialty status. (Author/LBH)

A survey of 200 specialists to determine their attitudes about and interactions with family practice is reported. Most physicians learned about family practice through referrals, in-hospital activities, and medical conferences. Suggestions are made for improving communication and information dissemination about family practice. (MSE)

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)

A study of the influence of clinical experiences on one medical school's students' choice of specialty found that neither early exposure to role models in family medicine nor the order in which specialty clerkships were taken significantly affected students' choice of family medicine. (MSE)

Theories of decision-making were used to study the differences between first-year medical students in North Carolina who preferred family medicine and those who preferred other specialities. Students who preferred family medicine were more interested in using medicine as a tool to help people. (Author/MLW)

A study shows a pattern of increased continuing medical education participation with increases in the number of partners sharing a practice, both for family practitioners and specialists but particularly the latter. This is especially true for practices having three or more partners and in skills maintenance courses. (Author/MSE)

Analysis of data from an annual graduating medical students' survey revealed that a required third-year family medicine clerkship of at least four weeks is associated with a higher percentage of students choosing training and specialty certification in family practice. Whether clerkship inspires or reinforces preexisting choices is not indicated.…

Issues to be considered in implementing a required postdoctoral dental education requirement are discussed, including the impact on predoctoral program patient pools, costs, faculty, student career choices, specialty training and practice, national enforcement, and financing. (MSE)

Results of a survey of geriatric dentistry specialists concerning the competencies required of geriatric dentists and the relative importance of those skills in five settings (dental school, general practice residency, prosthodontic specialty programs, geriatric fellowship programs, and continuing education) are reported. (MSE)

A discussion of basic working definitions and an attenuated historical review of graduate dental education, with special emphasis on the evolution of goals and objectives of graduate dental education, is presented. Factors affecting objectives include: type of program and desired end-product, discipline or specialty, and institutional setting.…

Results of a survey to document the nature and volume of ambulatory care in the community, based on an assessment of the visit, indicate that nearly four of five ambulatory visits made to physicians are for primary care and that all physicians, even the most specialized, provide a substantial amount of primary care. Implications for medical…

A study of factors affecting specialty choice before residency shows clerkship and role models to be most beneficial. Student experiences in the first three years of medical school were most detrimental, although most students select specialties in the third and fourth years. Implications for medical school policy are discussed. (MSE)