The study examined how 3 medical information-gathering processes (history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic studies) influenced 175 second-year medical students' formulations of the differential and the principal diagnoses of 14 simulated patient management problems in comparison with experienced clinicians. Students emphasized…

The challenge for medical educators is to develop for their students a firm educational foundation in nutritional science. A nutrition "laboratory" experience was developed at the Medical College of Virginia. Students examine their own nutrient intakes in relation to class means, national norms, and dietary recommendations. (MLW)

Students at a large private medical school were surveyed concerning the appropriateness of traditional cheating behaviors and behaviors related to professional misconduct and dishonesty in patient care. They also rated the acceptability of various rationalizations for these behaviors. (Author/MLW)

The development of medical knowledge was studied in 2 experiments involving 185 medical students at various stages and experienced physicians. The focus was on knowledge restructuring rather than acquisition. Experiments showed the importance of practical experience in knowledge restructuring, although the process was not as continuous as…

Dialogue with Canadian family practice faculty and teachers indicates that the mentorship experience is one that cannot be assigned to a learner. Examines aspects of a mentorship that can be ascribed and explored in a family practice residency training program. (LZ)

The Rural Physician Associate Program places third year medical students with rural Minnesota physicians, giving students practical experience and giving physicians onsite opportunities for continuing education. Library services, microcomputers, and an electronic mail system serve the information needs of the student/mentor pairs. (SK)

A study evaluated a teaching model in which contact between medical students, patients, and physicians was maximized. Each student (n=96) learned the physical examination of the abdomen and genitourinary system through contact with four patients, a plastic model, and five physicians. Students appreciated the interaction and physician role models.…

Two studies focused on aspects of the rating process in performance assessment. The first, which involved 15 raters and about 400 medical students, made the "committee" facet of raters working in groups explicit, and the second, which involved about 200 medical students and four raters, made the "rating-occasion" facet…

Studied the effects of the location (community-based or hospital-based) and the structure of an ambulatory clerkship for medical students on cognitive knowledge and clinical performance. Results from 176 students suggest that something about the rotational structure of the multidisciplinary ambulatory clerkship does affect clinical ratings of…

This study examined the quality of medical students' confidence estimates in answering questions in bacteriology based on personal knowledge alone and what they retrieved from a factual database in microbiology, in order to determine whether medical students can recognize when an information need has been fulfilled and when it has not. (Author/LRW)

Review of clinical studies providing empirical data on stress management programs in medical education found that student participants in such programs demonstrated improved immunologic functioning, decreased depression and anxiety, increased spirituality and empathy, enhanced knowledge of alternative therapies, improved knowledge of stress…

Independent reading by medical students beyond formal classroom activities is considered central to medical education. This study examines self-directed study among third-year students in a six-year medical program. Students averaged 151 minutes daily on independent study using lecture notes, textbooks, and reading articles. Suggests ways to…

Based on the experience of Michigan State University's emergency medicine residency program, proposes a practical method for modifying an existing student evaluation format. The model provides a template other programs could use in assessing residents' acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes reflected in the six general competencies…

Studied how student attitudes toward different types of patients and the medical profession change during clinical rotations. Responses of 88 third-year medical students show that students became less idealistic toward the elderly and people with chronic pain and less idealistic toward the profession. (SLD)

Describes a three-session elective summer course at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine to help third-year medical students address issues of money management and financial indebtedness Individual sessions focus on spending in a culture of consumerism, the meaning of money, and understanding money management. (DB)