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…

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…

A study investigated whether physicians (n=32) would generate less specific initial diagnoses than did medical students (n=39). Analysis of number, specificity, and breadth of diagnoses found students generated significantly more diagnostic hypotheses and more specific hypotheses, but breadth did not differ significantly. (Author/MSE)

Once admitted to the regular, four-year doctor of medicine program, students with Ph.D science degress may apply to the Medical Science Training Placement and Curriculum Committee at the Washington University School of Medicine for approval to complete medical school in three years. The program is described. (MLW)

The teaching of the history of medicine to medical students throughout their undergraduate medical education is advocated. History acts as a unifying force connecting a variety of scientific and humanistic disciplines and, by providing a historical perspective, serves to promote the student as a professional. (Author/MLW)

Comparison of opinions of residents in two programs providing different amounts of geriatric training concerning management of four geriatric and two traditional internal medicine problems found all had less confidence about geriatric than traditional problems. Students with more training offered more support for nondiscriminatory care of elderly…

Reviews research efforts in learning styles and approaches to learning focusing on effects of the medical school environment. Addresses teaching, curriculum, assessment, and implications for undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education. Concludes that medical students should be using the deep approach to learning although traditional…

Documentation has assumed increasing importance as more hospital boards require applicants to produce a listing of their procedural and diagnostic experience when applying for hospital privileges. It is possible that documentation will become an essential component of both graduate training programs and private practice. (MLW)

Six personal statements of interest in a residency, each from a different type of fictitious candidate, were randomly selected for mailing to 2,478 board-certified Ohio physicians practicing in 6 specialties in which women are underrepresented and 3,586 physicians in specialties in which women are overrepresented. Physicians consistently rated…

The development of a diary-based technique to describe and classify the content of attending physicians' discussions in medical attending rounds and a demonstration of its use at the Seattle Veterans Administration Medical Center are reported. The technique may be of use to medical educators and researchers for exploring the activities of the…

The Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (New York City) program of preemployment urine toxicology examinations for beginning housestaff physicians has resulted in treatment for two physicians testing positive for illegal drugs. The program's primary purpose is to focus on substance abuse issues in graduate medical education. (Author/MSE)

Purpose: To provide a rationale regarding the importance of physician behavior change counseling. To describe the double helix behavior change curriculum at the University of Rochester (UR). To provide initial evidence that the curriculum is effective. Design/methodology/approach: Evidence that physician use of the 5A's model is effective in…

A combination of factors has resulted in placement of medical students in hospitals not accustomed to their presence, causing some confusion in these hospitals regarding the proper role of these students. A statement of student privileges and responsibilities, developed by the Southwestern Michigan Area Health Education Center to deal with this…

This article briefly describes the four-year primary care program (beginning in the senior year of medical school and sponsored by the departments of internal medicine and family medicine) offered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine. Preliminary evidence indicates that the seven students and residents enrolled are…

A 2-year study examined the relevance of English-as-a-second-language instructional materials for students in health care fields. The study gathered specific information on common medical activities requiring the use of English and identified problem areas. A random sample of students of medicine, pharmacy, and research science was surveyed, the…