A study evaluated a teaching model in which contact between medical students, patients, and physicians was maximized. Each student (n=96) learned the physical examination of the abdomen and genitourinary system through contact with four patients, a plastic model, and five physicians. Students appreciated the interaction and physician role models.…

A Finnish university medical school precedes its cadaver dissection course with lectures on death, dissection, and psychological response. Student surveys reveal that the lectures have created an awareness that has helped them through difficult situations and prevented dissipation of energy through emotional reaction. Long-term benefits are also…

An experience with learner-centered instructional units in an otherwise traditional second year course in medical interviewing found that students (n=71) strongly supported the approach and that learner-centered experiences can be embedded in a teacher-directed curriculum and compete successfully with other, more directive, and, as perceived by…

A study of 54 first-year Marshall University (West Virginia) medical students found that a preventive cardiology curriculum improved both knowledge of and attitudes about preventive cardiology in general and on all 4 subscales (epidemiological evidence, risk factor characteristics, pathophysiology, primary interventions). (Author/MSE)

In response to HE 528 462, the author suggests the use of student-generated learning issues in problem-based medical education should place more emphasis on mechanisms in the generation of learning issues, the ramifications of various degrees of student input into the identification of issues, and the role of teacher-learner negotiations in the…

Interviews with faculty in seven problem-based medical school curricula concerning use of student-generated learning issues found that uses of such issues have evolved in terms of content definition, direct examination planning, student evaluation, and curriculum review. Results also suggest these curricula may encourage development of…

A survey of 129 medical residents in an urban teaching hospital revealed a general lack of knowledge about computers, although most had used a microcomputer. Students were most likely to be able to use word processing (73%) and bibliographic retrieval (71%) programs. Better access to and training for computer use are recommended. (Author/MSE)

A University of Washington medical school study investigated faculty opinions concerning essential clinical skills and students' reports of having been or not been evaluated on them. This form of self-study was found useful for assessing general concerns about the effectiveness of clinical instruction. (MSE)

A survey of 555 second-year medical students from 7 schools found academic stress related to general satisfaction with life, gender, physical activity, alcohol use, sleep patterns, and recent losses and misfortunes. Personal stress was related to general satisfaction with life, gender, drug use, sensation-seeking sports, and recent losses and…

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…

A study investigated the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction, interactive video, and videotapes as alternative methods of instruction in clinical clerkship modules on diabetes and hypertension. The 17 participants were more interested in balancing time between patient contact and alternative teaching methods and had better knowledge,…

In an experimental program, problem-based learning was used as the primary instructional method for a one-month primary-care internal medicine rotation on AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patient care. Resident, tutor, and faculty perceptions of the problem-based approach were positive. Despite substantial initial planning, little…

A method of student evaluation of preclerkship clinical medical teaching used at the University of Toronto (Canada) is described. The method has a high response rate, yields data on individual teacher effectiveness and course content coverage, is stable over time, and has been well received by students and faculty. (MSE)