Drawing from survey data (n=138 medical schools in the United States and Canada), a study analyzed medical schools' systems for evaluating student progress in clinical experiences. The 4-stage model used by most schools, common and unique characteristics, and 17 symptoms of system errors, signaling a need for system review, are outlined.…

Analysis of patient logbooks kept by 75 medical students in a family medicine clerkship provided a great deal of information about the nature of students' experience, changes taking place as the year progressed, the degree to which program objectives were being met, and differences between sites. (MSE)

A study investigated the usefulness of a new ambulatory medicine clerkship design by randomly assigning students to it or to an existing traditional general medicine rotation, then comparing student performance on the licensing examination, a laboratory interpretation test, written work, and a problem-solving exam. Performances were the same…

Compares and contrasts the primary outcomes and methods used to evaluate curricular changes at eight medical schools participating in a large-scale medical curriculum development project. Describes how the evaluative data, both quantitative and qualitative, were collected, and how evaluation drove curricular change. Although the evaluations were…

A modified Delphi process was used to survey program directors and medical residents to identify indicators of quality in internal medicine residency training. Items rated important by both groups included faculty characteristics such as stability, supervision, clinical skills, and teaching commitment; institutional support; and amount of resident…

Analysis of the process used by a faculty-student committee to choose medical student summer researchers (N=82) over two years looked at project findings in comparison with findings of other-funded projects by rejected applicants and with the original proposals. The soundness of the review process was supported. (MSE)

A study of a medical student clinical assessment program since 1986 at the University of Massachusetts indicates student awareness of increased faculty observation and increased feedback to students during and following clinical rotations. Results indicate a conscious faculty effort to improve students' clinical skills by improved observation and…

Describes the development and implementation of a World Wide Web-based electronic evaluation system for the internal medicine residency program at the University of Minnesota. Features include automatic entry of evaluations by faculty or students into a database, compliance tracking, reminders, extensive reporting capabilities, automatic…

The University of Iowa College of Medicine developed an independent study component for its Introduction to Clinical Medicine course. An evaluation of instructional software in order to determine its value to the course is described. (Author/MLW)

At Case Western University (Ohio), medical students critically analyze the quality and cost of asthma care in the community by studying patients in primary care practices. Each writes a case report, listing all medical charges and comparing them with guidelines for asthma care. Several recommendations for improved care have emerged. (MSE)

Outlines 13 priority research topics and 51 important research questions concerning medical education in ambulatory care settings, as defined by a distinguished group of medical educators, clinicians, and policymakers. Issues of theory binding, research priorities, and research design are discussed, and policy recommendations made for the…

Six principles of effective outcomes assessment in medical education are presented, discussed, and illustrated in assessing a preclinical course integrating basic science, social science, and clinical skills. It is argued that courses and programs for medical students and residents should use course-based assessment to ensure that medical trainees…

A study investigated whether a third-year medical clerkship evaluation system validly predicted students' later performance ratings during internships. Internship ratings of students needing remediation from 1986 to 1993 were compared with those of students voluntarily choosing fourth-year medicine. Results indicate the medicine clerkship…

A study examined 634 medical students' ratings of 126 attending and 152 resident physicians' teaching to prioritize specific skills needing focused faculty development. Results indicated students can discriminate between more- and less-effective teaching behaviors. Attending physicians were less effective at communicating goals than other teaching…

Evaluation procedures and standards for a sound, strong evaluation process for medical residents are described, criteria for academic probation and due process when a resident is performing unacceptably are proposed, and the medical school administration's role in evaluation is examined. Statistics on dismissal of graduate medical students are…