Five dental schools were given grants to design and implement a training program for dental students in planning and delivering preventive dental services. These programs are described and compared, and it is concluded that all were generally successful and worthy of continuation. (JSR)

The use of psychiatric patients in teaching interview technique to medical students is studied through a survey of participating patients and medical students. The experience was judged by both patients and students as useful, with more students than patients reporting the experience as being stressful. (Author/JMD)

Groups of medical students were compared with respect to ward-performance scores and scores on identical examinations to determine whether students with previous clerkships are likely to perform better in their internal medicine clerkships. It is concluded that previous experience apparently does not have a beneficial effect on student performance…

Major issues related to evaluating student performance in clinical clerkships are reviewed, and the development of a clerkship evaluation system that attempts to deal with each issue is described. Three evaluation methods are utilized: multiple choice examination, oral examination, and ward ratings. (Author/MLW)

A study is reported that compared a group of 24 applicants who were interviewed and accepted at the Yale University School of Medicine but went to other medical schools with a group who attended the same schools but had been rejected at Yale following an interview and committee deliberation. (Author/MLW)

A study to determine the frequency and correlates of cheating among medical students found that cheating is extremely frequent (87.6 percent) among premedical students and less frequent (58.2 percent) but still significant among medical students. The most disturbing finding was the positive correlation between cheating in school and cheating in…

A review of current trends in primary care career choice is reported. Questions addressed include whether students choosing the primary care specialties share similar attitudes toward their medical role, and whether student attitudes have changed during the last few years as the result of the national focus on primary care. (JMD)

A chief psychiatric resident and her supervisor at George Washington University Medical Center adapted traditional clinical supervision to encourage the resident's development as a teacher. The chief resident used weekly care conferences to teach first-year residents to make psychiatric formulations. (JMD)

Statistical information concerning medical students who participated in the National Resident Matching Program in 1979 is provided. The information includes data on United States students, North American graduates, foreign graduates, and numbers of specialty positions offered and applicants matched. (JMD)

A study of rotating interns' images of medical practitioners focuses on what images the interns have of obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians, internists, psychiatrists, and surgeons, and seeks to determine whether these images differ according to choice of specialty for postgraduate work. (JMD)

Legal requirements of medical schools to provide access for physically disabled students are reviewed, and considerations beyond physical accessibility are explored. It is argued that medical schools are obligated to educate students who are qualified to become physicians by virtue of intelligence, professional attitude, and ability to interact…

A survey of 2 medical school classes at Dalhousie University (Canada) compared student attitudes toward the conventional (n=57 students) and problem-based (n=73) curricula. Students in the problem-based group had more positive attitudes toward the learning environment and curriculum, but were less positive on a student-interaction scale. No…

A survey of 163 senior medical students attending a South Australian medical school found that rural students were more likely than urban students to experience stress; be concerned about getting a provider number (license); feel that consultants had little time for them; have made the decision to study medicine without pressure from others; and…

The current emphasis in medical education is on engaging learners in deep processing of information to achieve better understanding of the subject matter. Traditional approaches aimed for memorization of medical facts; however, a good memory for medical facts is still essential in clinical practice. This study demonstrates that deep information…

Ten qualitative categories associated with excellence in medical education and practice are identified: character and integrity; breadth of knowledge; leadership; geographic preferences; gender, race, and religious preference; work habits and motivation to study; personality and attitude; personal orientation toward service; altruism; and personal…