Medical students' performance on simulated patient practical examinations were compared to faculty ratings of the surgical clerks and awards of honor ratings. Faculty ratings were correlated with objective measures of the criteria on the exams. The performance of honor, versus non-honor students was higher on the practical exam. (Author/GDC)

A survey revealed that 32 percent of the medical schools in the U. S. and Canada with programs in family medicine provide opportunities for students to visit patients in their homes. Suggestions for improving and designing home visit programs are provided. (Author/MLW)

A study of data from 12 graduating classes of one medical school showed that medical students' choice to pursue funded medical research was independent of undergraduate major, although slightly more nonscience majors than science majors undertook such research. Concern about increasing nonscience medical school matriculants is seen to be…

Two concepts of medicine which must fuse in each physician are "medicine as a science" and "medicine as an art." Four principles in medical education are discussed: "a good education should leave much to be desired," scholarship, freeing students from excess facts, and medicine as a humane and caring profession. (MLW)

Over a period of two semesters, each of the students in the family medicine course at the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine was asked to come to the Family Medicine Center to be videotaped while interviewing a simulated patient. This pilot project is discussed. (Author/MLW)

The main objective of the general internal medicine program at the University of California, Los Angeles, Center for the Health Sciences, was to prepare physicians to have humanistic attitudes and skills in dealing with patients. A patient satisfaction survey was used to evaluate the program. (MLW)

A study examined whether there are performance differences between surgery clerks provided corrective reinforcement on orthopedic history and physical examination write-ups and those assessed by traditional feedback means when both groups are exposed to the feedback instrument. (MLW)

Changes in beginning medical students' preferred interview responses appear attributable to a course that emphasizes communication techniques for developing patient rapport. Results indicated significant increases in students' preferences for understanding responses and decreases in preferences for evaluative responses. Changes were in the desired…

A long-term follow-up study of an experimental method evaluated the lasting effects of that method using preclinical and clinical grades, as well as an assessment of dental students' clinical technical performance. (Author/MLW)

The hospital charges of three groups of patients in one hospital were compared. The results of the study indicated that teaching patients with a faculty attending physician had significantly higher hospital charges, while teaching patients with a community attending physician had charges similar to private, nonteaching patients. (Author/MLW)

A questionnaire on life-style was completed by freshman medical students at orientation and again seven months later. Life-style changes were related to physical-psychological health and affect mood changes. There was an increase in perceived stress as the school year progressed and a tendency to improve coping effectiveness. (Author/MLW)

A study to determine whether the conversion of a clinic to a hospital-based internal medicine group practice was associated with changes in medical students' evaluations of their educational experience in the modified clinical setting is described. (MLW)

A study examined the detection rate by students of a chronic problem when it coexists with a complaint that may seem acute or trivial, and assessed the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving students' rate. (MLW)

A program providing successful peer tutoring in nine of 10 basic science courses in the first two years of medical school is described, and the management of such a program is discussed. Positive program effects on both tutors and students in academic difficulty are emphasized. (MSE)

The aloofness of those in the medical schools from general faculty and students and the still narrow education of medical students are considered to be among the causes of the deep problems facing modern medicine. The current state of American medicine is assessed in this regard. (Author/LBH)