Develops a tool for measuring physician lifelong learning. Identifies 19 items that were included in the Jefferson Scale of Physician Lifelong Learning. Factor analysis showed five meaningful factors of lifelong learning: (1) need recognition; (2) research endeavor; (3) self-initiation; (4) technical skills; and (5) personal motivation. Concludes…

The underlying structure of ratings of clinical competence was investigated. The instrument consisted of 33 statements on clinical behavior filled out by directors of medical education programs at postgraduate training institutions. It was concluded that ratings of clinical competence represent a multidimensional construct involving at least three…

Surveyed African American and White physicians to compare their satisfaction with medical school, their medical career, and their professional and research activities and achievements. Found that respondents were comparable as to their careers, professional activities, and achievements. African Americans' practice patterns reflected a greater…

Effect Sizes (ES) are an increasingly important index used to quantify the degree of practical significance of study results. This paper gives an introduction to the computation and interpretation of effect sizes from the perspective of the consumer of the research literature. The key points made are: (1) "ES" is a useful indicator of the…

A survey of 364 men and 86 women medical school graduates found women less likely to be employed full-time or have outside professional activities, more likely to hold full-time academic appointments, to treat low-income patients, and to serve in inner cities. Women worked fewer hours, had fewer patients, but published scientific articles as…

A study was conducted of 610 medical students to determine whether postbaccalaureate preparation before matriculation in medical school effected student performance. Results showed lower achievement on some measures of performance in medical school by those who had taken nondegree postbaccalaureate courses. Implications for admission decisions are…

A study investigated, first, the percentage of medical students maintaining interest in obstetrics/gynecology during medical school compared to those maintaining interest in other specialties and, second, changes of interest from obstetrics/gynecology to other specialties and other specialties to obstetrics/gynecology. Results indicate instability…

Surveyed 196 medical college seniors about changes in the health-care system. Of the respondents, 79% believed that cost reduction rather than quality of care is the primary consideration behind recent changes, and 78% thought that managed-care organizations hamper physician ability in rendering optimal care. Discusses implications for curricular…

Similarities and differences prior to, during, and after medical school between 3,451 men and 1,121 women graduates of Jefferson Medical College were investigated. Differences in test scores, competence ratings, specialty choices, and estimated income hold implications for health care manpower management. (SLD)

A survey of 530 male and 137 female graduates of Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) found numerous gender differences in their assessments of selected areas of the medical school curriculum, issues of medical practice and professional life, and specialty choices, professional activities, and research productivity. (Author/MSE)

Discusses the potential impact of trends in the health-care environment on these aspects of medical education: admissions, faculty, curriculum, and educational outcome. Proposes research questions intended to guide inquiry and empirical studies in each of these four domains. Contains references. (SLD)

The hypothesis that the relationship between medical school achievement and postgraduate performance would vary by specialty was confirmed in a comparison of grades, standardized medical exams, and ratings in four areas of competence (medical knowledge, data-gathering skills, clinical judgment, and professional attitudes) in internal medicine,…

Pennsylvania developed a generalist physician initiative, inspired by that of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, initiating a longitudinal tracking system at six allopathic and two osteopathic medical schools to follow students from matriculation into professional careers. The statewide database includes information on over 18,000 students,…