Discusses the many factors that can cause a child to be misdiagnosed with hypertension, as well as the kinds of activities that are appropriate for a child who has hypertension. (JD)

This study examined the effects of similarity to prior examples in predicting errors in dermatologic diagnosis. Two interpretations about the acquisition of expertise are independent cues and instance-based categorization. The subjects (N=16) were first-year family medicine residents from McMaster University (Ontario). (MLW)

This study compared the analytic scores on an essay test of clinical judgment generated by nonphysician readers with those of physician readers. Generalizability theory was applied to determine the number of essays and scorers required to reach specified levels of reproducibility. Results suggested that with training nonphysicians could…

Data for this study were collected during a comparative, longitudinal evaluation of a family medicine fellowship program covering the years 1979-87. The physician sample included 90 family physicians who had received fellowship training and 113 control physicians who have not participated in a fellowship training program. (MLW)

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 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.…

In a roundtable discussion, a panel of experts address how physicians can identify active patients for whom exercise poses the risk of serious heart complications, how useful stress tests are, what exercise intensity is best, and what physicians can tell patients about the risks of exercise versus its benefits. (SM)

An open, prospective assessment of the treatment of severe aggression and self-injurious behavior (SIB) with paroxetine in 15 institutionalized persons with mental retardation was undertaken. Frequency and severity of aggression and SIB were charted. Results found that aggression severity only was reduced over the entire four-month follow-up…

Information available so far indicates that children in managed care arrangements are less likely to be seen by pediatric specialists and that families and providers are less satisfied under managed care. In spite of these drawbacks, the managed care approach, modified appropriately, offers new opportunities to provide high-quality medical care…

The health of women involves their emotional, social, cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being, and is influenced by social, political, and economic factors, as well as by biology. This definition of women's health provides a framework for a relevant and effective approach to patient education, health promotion, and disease prevention.…

This study presents data from Australia on psychostimulant production and prescription rates for children with attention-deficit disorders and analyzes data from one city. Results indicate that medication use is increasing at a rate similar to that in the United States and that prescription rates may vary by income and unemployment. (Author/CR)

Bibliometric studies were conducted on research performance at three Flemish universities: University of Ghent, Catholic University of Leuven, and University of Antwerp. This article outlines the methodology, presents the outcomes for the faculties of medicine, science, and pharmaceutical science; and focuses on the reactions of department…

Describes and evaluates the reflecting team approach with family practice residents to teach interviewing skills, systems-oriented psychosocial interventions, and patient behavioral health consultations. Questionnaire responses of 18 family practice residents participating in a longitudinal behavioral health program at the University of Arizona…

Explores major changes in pediatrics over the past decade: the push toward immunization; the rise in incidence of asthma; reduction of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); and an emphasis on preventive care. (HTH)

"MedLine Search Assistant" is a new interface for MEDLINE searching that improves both search precision and recall by helping the user convert a free text search to a controlled vocabulary-based search in a visual environment. Features of the interface are described, followed by details of the conceptual design and the physical design of…