Assessed the effectiveness of rehabilitation services provided to patients (N=277) of a large psychiatric hospital. Follow-up data revealed that 43.3 percent were productively engaged, 65.9 percent considered themselves satisfied with their level of community adjustment, and 41.1 percent were rated as involved in the community. Age, sex, and…

A study by an undergraduate pharmacy student to gain experience in research methodology and to enhance individual clinical involvement is described. Results of psychological exams of 40 patients from a family practice clinic did not accurately predict patient compliance or noncompliance. (Author/MLW)

A course to help dental students learn techniques of putting fearful patients at ease includes use of physician-patient interviews in a clinical setting, patient reviews of the taped interview, interview evaluation, student-instructor conferences, and group discussion, followed by an actual treatment session and review discussion with the patient.…

Compared attitudes of physicians, housestaff, and nurses (N=483) on care of the dying. Overall, health professionals responding to the survey felt comfortable talking to dying patients and supported the belief that patients should be informed of their prognosis. Substantial differences were found in beliefs about analgesic administration.…

Chaplains and seminary students enrolled in the University of Virginia Medical Center's Clinical Pastoral Program were asked to judge physicians' performances while requesting autopsies by completing a confidential evaluation form. The results of the evaluations were correlated with the physicians' success in obtaining autopsies. (MLW)

Twenty residents in two family practice programs received orientation including behavioral sciences. Their attitudes changed favorably toward behavioral sciences. The test developed for the study is being refined and may later be used for curriculum development relating to attitude change. (MSE)

Reviewed fee information of outpatients to determine if a relationship exists between fee assessment, third party coverage, and patient payment of balance. Also assessed the impact of a change in billing format. The only association found was between presence of third party coverage and likelihood that the patient returned. (Author/JAC)

Discusses a staff development program for nurses at an acute care hospital, aimed at responding to patient comments. Elements included (1) listening skills before training, (2) a formula to help nurses respond empathetically, (3) a pre- and posttest, (4) a followup class, and (5) program evaluation. (CT)

Assigned depressed outpatients (N=32) to either group assertion training or "traditional" group psychotherapy. Results showed that over a relatively short period of time, assertion training was more effective than traditional psychotherapy in increasing self-reported assertiveness and in alleviating depression. (Author)

Compared unipolar depressives with chronic intermittent depressives on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results indicated mean profiles did not differ significantly, however, an MMPI clinician was able to sort the profiles into two groups. Hypothesizes that unipolar and chronic depressives may not differ on severity of…

Evaluated the reliability and validity of objective scoring procedures on the Draw-A-Person Test. Subjects were mentally retarded persons, psychotics, and normals. Reliability estimates for both scales ranged from .42 to .78. Positive evidence indicates that overall quality does relate to overall level of psychological adjustment. (Author)

A course to teach students how to interview medical patients, to allow for discussion of student concerns about entering into clinical work, and to make students aware of the complex psychosocial factors related to medical illness is described. (MLW)

Evaluated the application of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) to client case records as a measure of treatment effectiveness and examined its correspondence to other measures of outcome. Findings were that GAS scores converged significantly with therapist ratings of global improvement and GAS scores obtained from client reports at follow-up.…

The influence of factual knowledge about the aged, general attitudes toward the aged, and personal contact with the aged on first-year medical students' attitudes toward geriatric patients and geriatric medicine was examined. Entering medical students indicated a preference for working with younger patients rather than aged patients. (Author/MLW)

A logically constructed format for the recording of the patient's personality profile is proposed. The term "personality" is used in a broad sense and refers to data that should be part of the patient's clinical record in any clinical situation and that describe the patient's general vulnerability. (Author/MLW)