It is important that medical residents be able to diagnose alcoholism prior to end-stage disease and organ damage. To assess their diagnostic ability, a survey was conducted of patients from the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The results demonstrated an underdiagnosis of alcoholism. (Author/MLW)

Documentation has assumed increasing importance as more hospital boards require applicants to produce a listing of their procedural and diagnostic experience when applying for hospital privileges. It is possible that documentation will become an essential component of both graduate training programs and private practice. (MLW)

A questionnaire concerning knowledge of opiate abuse and attitudes about abusers was administered to 94 randomly selected physicians and medical students at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. The results indicated that physicians might benefit from improved teaching in the area of opiate abuse. (Author/MLW)

Self-report data were collected on measures of job stress, life stress, social support provided by three sources (supervisors, co-workers, and people outside work), and psychological health symptoms. Residents who perceive high job stress need to be identified in their residencies so assistance can be provided. (Author/MLW)

A prospective study using two standardized psychological tests, the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), was conducted to quantify the emotional changes experienced by internal medicine house staff during the internship. (Author/MLW)

Two major Washington, DC medical training facilities conducted a project to train residents in clinical teaching skills. Residents receiving training were comparatively more confident as teachers, received more positive feedback on their teaching, and were judged by faculty, students, and peers as more effective. (Author/MSE)

Evaluation of the impact of medical students on patient satisfaction, as expressed by patients' parents, and on visit length in a hospital-based pediatrics clinic showed that students' visits are longer but yield somewhat more parent satisfaction. This suggests parent willingness to accept time costs associated with teaching in the program.…

Presents the results of a study of cognitive components in the diagnostic thinking process in which a content analysis of interviews between patients and clinical medical students, house officers, and graduate medical students revealed 14 categories of cognitive activity in the process. Six tables and a reference list are included. (Author/JL)

An analysis of data from the National Study of Internal Medicine Manpower and the National Resident Matching Program is presented. The degree of congruence of the data is determined and the potential of answering questions about why and when certain career choices are made is discussed. (MLW)

Problems created by noninternal medicine residents rotating on internal medicine services, development of a curriculum which would adequately prepare residents for practice, and recruitment of more competent house officers are discussed. Strategies for improving teaching in the ambulatory environment are suggested. (MLW)

The extent to which laboratory investigation by interns and residents could be considered "excessive" on general medical floors at a teaching hospital is assessed. The ordering of tests by attending physicians was compared with that of residents at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada. (MLW)

An economical computerized system, developed for producing the annual schedule of monthly assignments for medical house officers, is described. This program can generate schedules that conform to the individual preferences of the house officers while meeting the requirements of the residency program. (Author/MLW)

A survey of attitudes toward cancer held by faculty and house staff physicians in a teaching hospital is described. Data indicate significant differences between the perceptions of faculty and house staff members as to their counterpart's approach to cancer. Improved interpersonal communication is suggested for improving cancer education.…

A survey of 1960-75 graduates of the Medical Residency Program of Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., to obtain opinions concerning the strengths and weaknesses of their training and their opinions on curricular changes designed to prepare residents better for roles as general internists is discussed. (Author/MLW)

A study is presented that documents widespread unfamiliarity with traditional health beliefs among 30 residents who had been caring for Mexican patients in a Southern California clinic for periods ranging from one to three years. It is suggested that formal curricular material on health beliefs and practices should be provided. (MLW)