Objective: To help students, residents, and general practitioners to improve the technique, skills, and reproducibility of their prostate examination. Methods: We developed a comprehensive guideline outlining prostate anatomy, indications, patient preparation, positioning, technique, findings, and limitations of this ancient art of urological…

Historically, medical education has focused largely on medical students' intellectual development, mostly ignoring the broader psychological milieu of medical practice. This chasm can result in practitioners who are less likely to process their emotions and/or support their patient's needs, and more likely to experience burnout. Self-determination…

A study explored the responses of medical students, resident physicians, and experienced physicians to 12 vignettes describing hypothetical patients to determine the relationship between clinical experience and susceptibility to bias in treatment decisions resulting from presentation of possible outcomes. Framing bias was most evident in the…

How can teaching construct professional identity? In a large Australian teaching hospital, a support program for trainee paediatricians who themselves conduct clinical (bedside) tutorials for groups of medical students invites them to focus on their professional identities as teachers, separately from their identities as clinicians, and to…

A study investigated possible differences in standardized patient examination scores for three groups of undergraduate (n=176) and graduate (n=221) medical students assessed at different sites over two years. Results show no systematic change in scores over testing dates, suggesting no problems with breach of test security. (MSE)

A study was conducted to test a method of diagnosing and dealing with the learning needs of advanced-level college students in which the students take an active part. (MKM)

Stresses experienced by college students at different educational levels are considered, along with ways that colleges can help reduce destructive forms of stress. After discussing how stress and coping are related, problems in defining stress and coping are considered, and models are proposed for understanding stress. Following an overview on the…

In response to concern about gender and racial insensitivity among medical faculty and medical students, a faculty development program using videotaped vignettes of inappropriate interactions was developed at the University of Pennsylvania. Faculty have appreciated the heightened awareness, and the unit has promoted further discussion. Additional…

Students from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and faculty members and pediatric residents from the Children's Hospital National Medical Center developed a new curriculum for the third-year pediatric clerkship. Students were asked to complete a log and check the appropriate learning activity. (MLW)

A multistation clinical examination using standardized patients was used over 4 years to assess the interpersonal skills of 346 fourth year medical students, 51 internal medicine residents, and 71 foreign medical graduates seeking admission to graduate study. Results indicate that a reliable assessment of interpersonal skills can be achieved this…

A study revealed a very high incidence of unrecognized feelings toward the patient (countertransference) and potentially harmful associated behaviors in a group of medical students. Data suggest the need for instructors to teach medical students about the concept of countertransference. (Author/MLW)

A laboratory exercise for dental students is presented using a toxic dose of lidocaine in place of an anesthetic dose of pentobarbital. The use of lidocaine demonstrates its toxic and lethal actions and increases the relevance of the experience for dental students. (Author/MLW)

A guide to financing medical school studies is presented. Financial planning should ideally begin as soon as medical school admission becomes a possible goal. Information is provided to help estimate costs and identify sources of financial aid, including help provided by a spouse or parents, institutional assistance, private loans/scholarships,…

As emergency medicine became a specialty, it was realized that traditional training of physicians in urgent, emergent, and acute care problems was deficient. Surveys and studies demonstrate that the emergency medicine curricula in American medical schools remains at a minimum. (MLW)

Describes how the discussion of a few short poems on abortion was used to show how the special language of poetry can help doctors share the experience of their patients, as well as recognize their own feelings and attitudes. (JL)