The ability of physicians to convey catastrophic information such as death or terminal illness is seen as an underdeveloped area of communication skills. A study to determine whether simulation with videotape feedback is an effective teaching technique to improve pediatric residents' skills in communication is discussed. (Author/MLW)

A study to test the hypothesis that self-instructional programs in nutrition and dentistry are as effective a teaching method as traditional lectures is discussed. The results of the analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the test scores in the lecture and self-instruction groups. (Author/MLW)

The medical practice setting preferences, in terms of demography, of 1978 U.S. medical school graduates are reported along with their career plans and other individual characteristics. Characteristics of graduates preferring inner city, small city and town/rural settings are highlighted. (JMD)

Discusses assigning medical students to on-call clergy. The on-call clergy help cope with crises that arise in the hospital. The students gain clinical experience through the tutelage of the clergy. (Author)

Medical schools' academic factors (full-time teaching and research components) have more influence on students' career choice than clinical factors (residency programs), but the internship year and first few years of practice are also important determinants. This raises questions about the desired objectives of a medical school. (Author/GDC)

The teaching of the pelvic examination is seen as having undergone a dramatic change since the introduction of trained professional patient-instructors. The results of a study using two groups, the professional patient-instructor method in one group and a control group using gynecologists and clinic patients, is presented. (MLW)

Career plans, based on responses to the Association of American Medical Colleges' first annual graduation questionnaire concerning the racial/ethnic identity of 1978 U.S. medical graduates, are reported. The data show that the six racial/ethnic groups follow similar general trends, though group differences do appear. (MLW)

A component of a freshman psychiatry course in which students are permitted to pursue independent study in any aspect of the human life cycle is described. Examination of student topics over a three-year period revealed that many chose areas of study relating to significant past personal experiences. (Author/MLW)

In a predominantly White medical school, Black students perceived more stressors and fewer social supports. Blood pressure levels of low- and high-stress groups did not differ significantly, and neither total degree of perceived stressors nor interaction of stressors and social supports significantly predicted blood pressure when controlled for…

Surveys from 1975 and 1980 of U.S. medical schools' offerings in death education are compared. Changing attitudes of practitioners on death by having medical schools focus on the social-psychological aspects of dying and death as part of their curricula is suggested. Physicians and theologians are proposed as facilitators. (Author/MLW)

Responses of an unbiased random sample of students were compared with the responses of a self-selected sample for the evaluations of two medical school courses. When responses were investigated across items, the patterns of differences between the random and voluntary samples appeared to be unique to each class. (Author/MLW)

It is suggested that for many residents, stressful perceptions of the early years of the residency program may be related to feelings of not being in control of experiences. Support for this idea comes from data obtained on Rotter's Internal-External Control Scale and interviews with residents. (Author/MLW)

Medication noncompliance is seen as an obstacle to successful clinical outcomes of many diseases. An exercise for preclinical medical students at Stanford University is described. Objectives include sensitizing students to the consequences of medication noncompliance, illustrating problems, and evaluating a number of compliance-related issues.…

Thirty medical students at the University of Otago were randomly chosen to learn clinical biochemistry by the Keller Plan. The rest of the class acted as controls. The randomly selected Keller group scored significantly higher than the control group on a practice/review test and the final examination. (Author/MLW)

Seminars with small groups of medical students beginning their training on an obstetrics and gynecology service attempt to help the students cope with reactions that could impair their ability to perform competent gynecological examinations. Six characteristic responses of students performing their first pelvic examination are described.…