A discussion of research needs on physicians' choice of specialty looks at methodological problems identified in the literature and suggests six areas for further development: distinction between career preference and career attainment; multiple predictors; larger samples; more specific specialty subdivisions; longitudinal approach; and testing of…

The University of New Mexico hospital supported development and implementation of a brief course for medical students in medical dictation. Dictations of hospital discharge summaries prepared by the participants were compared with those done by prior graduates of the institution. Results found better completeness, clarity, and brevity in…

In cases where private medical practitioners volunteer as preceptors in medical clerkships, standardizing and evaluating the learning experience is a concern. A study investigated the effectiveness of feedback to the volunteer teachers as a means of improving instruction in identified deficiency areas. Results indicate some problems persist.…

A study evaluated differences between subjects at three levels of expertise in acquiring and using information obtained from a patient during the clinical interview. Five endocrinologists, five residents, and five students interviewed a volunteer patient and provided differential diagnoses. Differences were found in diagnostic accuracy,…

A microcomputer program to provide health care workers with instruction in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) infection control was assessed by medical residents. The experimental group (n=24) acquired more knowledge than controls (n=33). Response to the method was positive, and computer-assisted instruction is seen as useful for AIDS…

A review of research found that despite limitations in research methodology, data support relationships between medical students' career choices and sociodemographic student characteristics, personality traits and attitudes, medical school characteristics, specialty program characteristics, and occupational information available. Research on…

The University of Rochester has developed a third-year medical school clerkship in which students spend the second half of the clerkship in the offices of practicing internists. Participating faculty are carefully chosen and trained. Experience indicates the approach is feasible, academically effective, and acceptable to students and faculty.…

Attitudes of 120 residents from three teaching hospitals about psychosocial aspects of patient care and the feasibility of teaching psychosocial skills to residents were compared to those of 86 practicing internists, 42 psychiatrists, 29 academic general internists, and 63 surgeons. The newly developed scale was seen as useful in evaluating…

A successful one-year medical information system pilot project responded to 240 questions by 47 physicians in 10 rural Alberta (Canada) communities. On average, each physician submitted 5.1 questions, and each community submitted 24 questions. Physicians received responses in a median of 7.3 hours or could conduct their own searches. (Author/MSE)