One aspect of the validity of medical students' clinical performance ratings are studied. It is demonstrated that there are higher correlations between house officer ratings of student knowledge and cognitive ability scores than between attending staff evaluations and student ability scores. (Author/GK)

Bayes' theorem in the diagnostic context is reviewed, and a cognitive bias reported subsequent to Detmer's review is described, along with a demonstration of this bias with advanced medical students. Some of the implications for teaching of diagnosis are explored. (Author/MLW)

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in clinic patients, residents' ability to identify these affects, and accuracy of patients' responses to simple questions about them were investigated at a University of Virginia clinic. Neither patient nor resident assessments were found to be very accurate, but together they are more effective. (MSE)

Videotapes as an aid in teaching interview techniques and in training psychotherapists are seen as an invaluable adjunct to traditional formats. A study that explores how the medium shapes the attitudes of medical audiences toward the subjects being taped is presented. (MLW)

A logbook system for recording students' patient-care activities during a clerkship is described. It was designed at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine to provide data for assessing students and for evaluation of the clerkship itself. Student logbooks are collected at the midpoint and end of the clerkship. (MLW)

Explores attitudes of dental and medical students toward death and dying. Attitudes toward death influencing choice between dental school and medical school are latent. Attitudes of dental and medical students toward death may be differentially affected by their professional experiences. (Author/BEF)

Although it has been suggested that sleep, and particularly REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, plays an important role in information processing, this study found no relationship between any aspect of sleep, in particular time of arousal during the week and on weekends, and academic performance. (MLW)

Reliable and valid methods of student assessment in Newcastle University's new undergraduate medical curriculum are examined as indices of competence within the constraints of the educational program objectives. Considerable attention is given to the assessment of sciences basic to medicine through assessment instruments developed from clinical…

Description of AVLINE, a computerized information system that lists audiovisual materials in a broad or specific health-related area. It contains information about nonprint instructional materials in two categories: (1) instructional packages and (2) documentation of scheduled educational events. (JOW)

A rating scale was developed to measure the facilitative responsiveness of first year medical students. (BW)

A laboratory exercise for dental students is presented using a toxic dose of lidocaine in place of an anesthetic dose of pentobarbital. The use of lidocaine demonstrates its toxic and lethal actions and increases the relevance of the experience for dental students. (Author/MLW)

Data from 68 female and 178 male first-year medical students indicate that the females were more achievement oriented and had higher needs for autonomy, dominance, exhibitionism, and order than the males. These results contrast with those from other studies. (Author/RL)

As a last chance medical haven, Caribbean medical schools are increasingly sought by U.S. students. Federal and state investigations are being run on one of these, and two former students have filed suit. (BB)

Examined the concurrent validity of the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS), a new test of technical skills for general surgery residents. Correlations between OSATS scores and faculty rankings were generally high for six senior residents but low for six junior residents at the University of Toronto. (MDM)

Describes a successful program in which older medical students act as tutors to first-year students in small-group teaching sessions. Describes the organization and evaluation of this program. (MKR)