A study of burnout among 67 residents in four programs found little relationship between burnout scores and situational and background factors, but numerous relationships were found among personality measures, burnout scores, and measures of regret about career choice, indicating the importance of interpersonal skills and comfort in mitigating…

Reviews the controversy regarding water fluoridation in the United States during the last 50 years. Discusses the current status; benefits; and health risks including skeletal fluorosis, kidney disease, hypersensitivity, mutagenic effects, birth defects, and cancer. Presents statistics and anecdotal accounts. (CW)

Evaluation research in work-site health promotion offers an opportunity to test the effectiveness of work-site health promotion and disease prevention programs. Based on an evaluation of the research, an interdisciplinary approach to data collection and analysis is suggested, and policy implications are outlined. (TJH)

A combined B.S.-M.D. program designed to provide family practitioners to northwest Pennsylvania is described. The impact of the program on the region goes beyond the number of physicians supplied. Gannon University attracts high-quality students, and Erie hospitals benefit from affiliation with the medical school at Hahnemann University.…

The latest epidemic, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), is ending an unprecedented interval of optimism about medicine's ability to conquer illness. (MSE)

Reviews the positive effects of patient education, including the physician patient relationship, improvements in health status, and cost effectiveness. The status of hospital libraries in Nigeria is described, and suggestions for the implementation of patient education programs are made. (5 references) (CLB)

The public recognition that health care can be preventive as well as treatment oriented provides new opportunities for allied health professionals to expand their traditional patient education roles. This article describes health education, the competencies it requires, and the conditions that facilitate successful learning outcomes. (Author/CT)

Results of a survey of geriatric dentistry specialists concerning the competencies required of geriatric dentists and the relative importance of those skills in five settings (dental school, general practice residency, prosthodontic specialty programs, geriatric fellowship programs, and continuing education) are reported. (MSE)

A study of 20 faculty development fellows' self-concept as a clinical teacher, before and after a fellowship, revealed a substantial change in self-perception on two of the factors, and increased congruence with perceptions of an ideal teacher. Focus was on the characteristics of authority, sensitivity, and capability. (MSE)

A questionnaire administered to 150 undergraduates and 90 faculty members compared their relative levels of goal congruence with those of their university. Programs in medicine, social sciences, and engineering were studied. (JW)

A current study of major changes in the behavioral science curriculum in a family practice residency is reported. The survey instrument appears to be highly reliable for assessing graduates' perspectives on specific aspects of residency training in the behavioral sciences. (MLW)

A new approach to the assessment of physicians' performance in practice using undetected standardized (simulated) patients is discussed. Case-specific performance criteria were established for seven standardized patients and then the patients were introduced into the practices of family physicians. (Authors/MLW)

A survey revealed that 32 percent of the medical schools in the U. S. and Canada with programs in family medicine provide opportunities for students to visit patients in their homes. Suggestions for improving and designing home visit programs are provided. (Author/MLW)

Over a period of two semesters, each of the students in the family medicine course at the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine was asked to come to the Family Medicine Center to be videotaped while interviewing a simulated patient. This pilot project is discussed. (Author/MLW)

The main objective of the general internal medicine program at the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for the Health Sciences, was to prepare physicians to have humanistic attitudes and skills in dealing with patients. A patient satisfaction survey was used to evaluate the program. (MLW)