A study found that dentists (n=164) receiving predoctoral and continuing instruction on the behavioral approach to caring for fearful patients recognized a higher proportion of fearful patients in their practices and were motivated to identify barriers to their care. They also found the costs of treatment to be greater. (MSE)

In August and September of 1989, 76 fourth year students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine took the objective structured clinical examinations. Analyses were conducted looking at the relationship of sequence to see whether scores showed a decrease in the afternoon. No significant effect of examinee fatigue was seen. (MLW)

A pilot study in three rural Colorado communities that focused on health service delivery problems related to cancer concentrated on perceptions of community influentials, health care providers, and patients and their families. Results indicate that qualitative methods can identify crucial problems for most people without losing sight of outlier…

As weight training becomes increasingly popular with children and adolescents, physicians need to advise patients and parents about what is safe and what is not. Young people who adhere to a well-supervised, progressive strength training program can improve their strength and improve performance in other sports. (SM)

A survivor of leukemia, Mary Lovato has used support groups, fundraising, and workshops to educate Pueblo and other Native people about treatment and management of cancer and has made significant progress in breaking the silence that surrounds the disease among her people. (SAS)

A study examined advice-giving interactions between Swedish district nurses and patients, comparing these sequences with parallel interactions between British health visitors and first-time mothers in previous research. Analysis focused on how advice-giving is organized in the settings, including how advice is initiated and designed, its…

Focuses on if conditionals in medical discourse. Three genres are examined: research articles, journal editorials, and doctor-patient consultations. Analyzes a variety of formal, semantic, and pragmatic aspects of conditionals across genres. Concludes with brief reflections on pedagogic implications. (Author/VWL)

Assessed MedEthEx Online, a computer-based learning program, in improving communication skills as part of a required bioethics course for medical students. Exam scores of users were comparable with non-users, although computerized-learning students scored higher in specific exam areas, felt somewhat more clinically prepared, and rated the course…

This study examined the construct validity of the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40) in a sample of 130 female psychiatric inpatients. The TSC-40 displayed criterion-related validity in relation to childhood sexual abuse. Survivors of sexual abuse obtained significantly higher scores than those without such a history on the overall TSC-40 and on…

Examines the experiences and rhetorical actions of key medical scientists and physicians who have treated, studied, and written about AIDS since the epidemic's beginning. Explains that those first to describe the disease report the rhetorical challenge was convincing their audience to accept the novel idea of AIDS and to see the cases as an…

The utility of the Negative Treatment Indicators Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Content and Content Components scales was evaluated using 113 men treated for chronic pain. Correlates for this patient sample were similar to those of the normative sample. Negative treatment scores may be used to indicate emotional stress. (SLD)

The Early Patient-Oriented Care Program provides early clinical education for pharmacy students and clinical services for patients. Six students were assigned to visit 12-15 hemodialysis patients monthly under preceptor supervision. Topics covered include approach to patient, medical information retrieval, pharmaceutical care philosophy,…

Investigates the cultural context and the silent language of health care delivery from the perspective of foreign-born, Vietnamese immigrants. Suggests that business communication instructors need to incorporate cultural health beliefs, time orientation, and the expected role of family members in the practice of health care as they prepare…

Identifies current trends and issues in health informatics with examples of applications, particularly in English-speaking countries. Topics include health systems, professionals, and patients; consumer health information; electronic medical records; nursing; privacy and confidentiality; finding and using information; the Internet; e-mail;…

This study investigated the efficacy of a 10-session, HIV-risk-reduction intervention with 221 women and 187 men receiving outpatient psychiatric care for a mental illness. Patients were randomly assigned to the HIV intervention, a structurally equivalent substance use reduction (SUR) intervention, or standard care; they were assessed pre- and…