A study of patterns in second- and third-year family practice residents' requests for referrals found higher rates for the senior students, suggesting possible differences in approach to case management, lack of experience in referral among younger students, and differences in case mix. (MSE)

Medical care evaluation studies suggest that doctors often do not use blood resources appropriately and key educational objectives in the field are not being met. The Delphi method was used to achieve a consensus opinion among transfusion medicine educators to determine goals and objectives. (MLW)

Describes a training program developed and operated by parent educators at the Children's Health Council that is designed to help pediatric resident medical students at Stanford University in their efforts to understand parents better and give them useful advice on common child rearing questions. (BB)

The impact of pediatric residents on total patient charges generated in the outpatient pediatric practice of a university hospital was evaluated. Average charges for visits to residents were greater than for visits to faculty pediatricians. The difference was attributable to the higher number of hospital laboratory tests ordered by residents.…

A study assessed (1) the validity of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine evaluation instrument regarding the occurrence of halo effects and (2) possible relationships between the faculty's evaluations of the residents and the residents' cognitive knowledge and productivity. (MLW)

The effect on test scores of changing answers to multiple-choice questions was studied and compared to earlier research. The current setting was a nationally administered, in-training, specialty examination for medical residents in obstetrics and gynecology. Both low and high scorers improved their scores when they changed answers. (SW)

Identifying, explaining, and changing the ordering habits of physicians who order many ancillary services are becoming important cost containment goals. Written patient management problems to simulate real life clinical situations were used to calculate the cost of physician decisions. (MLW)

The law involved in graduate medical education is discussed in several contexts: when applicants are denied admission to residency programs; when residents are dismissed from programs; and when residents, hospitals sponsoring residency programs, or attending physicians are sued for malpractice. (Author/MLW)

In response to the perceived need for primary care physicians, two major changes in internal medicine training have occurred: (1) a third year of general training was required for internal medicine board certification and (2) many hospitals developed primary care internal medicine residencies with an increased emphasis on ambulatory training.…

Since 1972 Michigan State University College of Human Medicine has participated with community hospitals and practicing physicians in a number of cities to provide surgical clerkship experiences for its students. The new role of a full-time community-based university surgeon to facilitate this program is described. (Author/LBH)

Over 100 department chairmen in American and Canadian medical schools participated in this questionnaire study. Most are deeply concerned about increasing federal regulation of medicine, expect more emphasis on the basic science aspects of pathology, and foresee a shift of residency training programs away from small hospitals to larger medical…

Sixty-seven third-year medical students at the University of Ottawa were interviewed at the beginning and end of a month-long clerkship in psychiatry in order to determine the potential for negative postclerkship attitudes and the extent to which they can be modified. The importance of identifying vulnerable students is emphasized. (Author/LBH)

Out of a total of 1396 students at the Medical College from 1949 to 1972, 584 doctors migrated to other countries and only 29 have returned to India. The majority left for better and more comfortable living conditions. (LBH)

Various alternative allocation methods for internship and residency appointments are discussed and examples given. The results of the first five allocations are presented. The percentage of applicants obtaining one of their first three choices varied from 61 to 70 percent; for consultants the range was 72 to 94 percent. (Author/LBH)

In a sample of 101 physicians, 65 retained their original first choice of career, 15 opted for their previous second or third choice, and 21 gave a completely new first choice since their internships. Reappraisal of abilities, additional experience in the new choice, and additional knowledge of promotion prospects were cited as reasons for career…