Reviews current approaches to the examination of medical students' clinical competence, mentioning differences in approaches adopted in Australia, Great Britain, and North America. Test methods used in examination are discussed critically and their separate strengths and weaknesses are highlighted. Newer approaches involving multiple methods and…

A study was conducted to test a method of diagnosing and dealing with the learning needs of advanced-level college students in which the students take an active part. (MKM)

A survey of departments of internal medicine to assess information about requirements for ambulatory clinical experiences for medical students is discussed. The survey yielded information on status, reasons for ambulatory care training, characteristics, goals, structure, ratings, problems, and difficulties for students. (Author/MLW)

Explores how changes in conceptual frameworks in science, from reductionism to complexity; an outgrowth of the chaos theory that views parts in relation to one another, the entity they form, and the environment, must inform the development of an academic discipline in women's health. (SLD)

Studied the views of enrollees in an academically affiliated health maintenance organization (HMO) about participating in the education of medical students. Responses from 210 adults and 125 parents or guardians replying about children show that enrollees thought the HMO should be involved in teaching but they had specific concerns about the…

Describes expansion of a system at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, which evaluates professional behaviors of its third- and fourth-year students, to first- and second-year students in order to catch earlier deficiencies in professionalism. Discusses the system, lessons learned, and future plans to expand the system…

Describes a two-pronged program at Dartmouth Medical School (New Hampshire) for teaching quality improvement to medical students: one component requires all students to participate in an improvement project at their community-based physician preceptor sites; the other component, an elective, has students develop an improvement plan for the…

Discusses the use of simulation in medical education at all levels and describes how role play, standardized patients, computer, videotape, and mannequin simulations are integrated into the educational curricula for medical students and physicians. Discusses advantages and disadvantages of simulation and barriers to the use of simulation.…

Describes how Dr. Deirdre Neilen has been a much-tapped natural resource for overwhelmed first-year medical students at Syracuse's Upstate Medical University for 20 years. Discusses how she teaches novices study techniques and how to believe in themselves. (EV)

Traditionally, rural students experience urban disruption during the many years of education and training in urban environments before choosing a practice site. Regional rural campuses that allow students to live and work in small towns during the last 2 years of medical school are one strategy to address this issue. Purpose: To report the…

This study assessed the extent to which a one-time experiential intervention improved intercultural awareness and sensitivity among first-year medical students. The students participated in group activities in which they shared personal experiences, solved a hypothetical problem, and engaged in team building exercises. Post-intervention, students…

Utilization of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) for final assessment of medical students in Internal Medicine requires a representative sample of OSCE stations. The reliability and generalizability of OSCE scores provides validity evidence for OSCE scores and supports its contribution to the final clinical grade of medical…

Few longitudinal programs exist to teach senior students (MS4s) to be teachers, nor have there been any reports of comprehensive program evaluation in this area. The primary objectives of this study were to describe our ongoing faculty development effort and to develop a multi-level program evaluation, using Dixon's model. The TALKS (Teaching and…

Peer teaching has been recognized as a valuable and effective approach for learning and has been incorporated into medical, dental, and healthcare courses using a variety of approaches. The success of peer teaching is thought to be related to the ability of peer tutors and tutees to communicate more effectively, thereby improving the learning…

Academic achievement indices including GPAs and MCAT scores are used to predict the spectrum of medical student academic performance types. However, use of these measures ignores two changes influencing medical school admissions: student diversity and affirmative action, and an increased focus on communication skills. To determine if GPA and MCAT…