A study investigated changes in medical students' attitudes toward homosexuality following midyear freshman exposure to a panel presentation and after psychiatry clerkship. Group attitudes of three consecutive medical school classes were consistent, beginning and largely remaining in the "low-grade homophobic" category. An ongoing forum to explore…

A study of grading of 375 third-year medical students and their 121 preceptors after a required 1-month ambulatory care clerkship examined patterns in student gender, preceptor gender, and student-preceptor gender pairs. Results indicate female students received higher clinical grades, especially when the preceptor was male. (Author/MSE)

This paper presents medical residents' opinions regarding barriers to producing more generalist physicians, such as lack of appropriate training in ambulatory generalist practice and the increased prestige given to specialists. Recommendations are offered to medical schools, residency programs, the community, and the culture of medicine to…

In response to existing educational systems producing individuals who fail to have sound working knowledge bases, this article examines uses of technology to improve instructional methods. Reviews results of a case study that use problem-based learning as a collaborative learning method for medical undergraduates, and presents six principles of…

Examined influence of assault and participant characteristics on medical students' attitudes toward rape and nonsexual-assault victims. First- and third-year students read narratives of three types of assault patients. Female students revealed more favorable attitudes toward victims than did males. Implications for service delivery to rape victims…

This survey of 82 first-year medical students at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, found that students with more experience working or interacting socially with African Americans or Hispanics were more likely to expect to treat minority patients, practice with minority partners, and reside in predominantly…

Evaluation of an intensive community health project by three medical school classes (n=240) found the project was rated more favorably (1) with each succeeding class, (2) by students planning to enter primary care specialties, and (3) by students who invested more time in the project. (Author/DB)

A survey of 300 family practice residency directors found most chief residents receive no formal training or evaluation. Primary duties are acting as liaison and advocate for residents, scheduling, and leadership. Opportunity to develop leadership skills and influence curriculum are chief advantages; time pressures and demands are main…

At Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, medical ethics case discussions have been implemented successfully in 7 of 17 clinical departments. Success is attributed to broad institutional support, program and format capable of capturing and holding residents' attention, direct involvement of all residency participants,…

Analysis of data from 53 medical students found a gender-specific correlation between faculty evaluations of clinical clerkships and eventual female student choice of that rotation's specialty and between high mini-Board scores by male students and male selection of that specialty. Substantially more women chose pediatrics residencies than…

Clinical surgery faculty (n=78) evaluated videotaped simulated surgery student oral examinations. Results showed that regardless of the content of students' responses, evaluators were strongly influenced by how well students communicated. Evaluators preferred a moderate response rate and direct eye contact over a slower response rate and indirect…

A study explored predictors of African-American and other nontraditional medical students' first-year academic performance at the Medical College of Georgia. Variables included undergraduate grades and grades in a summer prematriculation program (SPP) featuring biochemistry, anatomy, and immunology courses. SPP grades were found useful in…

The reliability and accuracy of evaluations of 126 surgical faculty made by 47 general surgery residents over 2 years were examined. The general accuracy and reliability over both years indicate that anonymous ratings of surgical faculty by groups of residents can be a valuable evaluation method. (SLD)

A study investigated reasoning processes of medical students in schools with different curricular formats, a conventional curriculum with basic science taught before clinical training and a problem-based curriculum with basic science taught in the context of clinical problems. Strengths and weaknesses of each curriculum type emerged. (Author/MSE)

At the end of their clinical clerkship rotations, all students in one medical school's classes of 1988 (N=69), 1989 (N=63), 1990 (N=66) took the Post-Clerkship Examination. This study examined the nature of the patients' satisfaction ratings; reliability of patient satisfaction ratings and number of patients needed to derive reliable ratings; etc.…