A system of staff and patient-staff meetings was initiated to clarify the psychodynamics of ward interactions and to reduce conflicts. Observations were made on the program's effect on the therapeutic milieu. It was concluded that the program failed because the adolescent patients felt threatened by over-analysis. (SJL)

An extension of the service role for college student volunteers in nursing homes is advocacy, representing the interests of those unable to obtain their rights. The article describes various student advocacy programs and suggests resources for action on nursing home complaints. (MF)

A program training senior citizens as home health aides for the elderly is evaluated, using a variety of procedures (questionnaires, interviews, and observation) and involving many related persons. Primary outcome variables center on graduate employment and graduate and patient satisfaction. Quality of instruction, interorganization cooperation,…

This discussion of collection development considers (1) special problems as they relate to specific types of institutions--nursing, long term residential, psychiatric and developmental; (2) acquisition; (3) organization--classification, cataloging, and physical arrangement; (4) use--circulation, special methods, and the role of librarians; and (5)…

Examines how personnel from eleven health professions communicate with patients about pain, and concludes that health professionals lack skills and a viable model for communicating about pain. (MH)

The pattern of use of psychiatry over a 12-month period in a university-based primary care center is reported. Interest in pursuing careers in family practice and amount of time spent in the center were related to seeking consultation. Differences in use by nurse practitioners, social workers, and patients are cited. ( Author/LBH)

New ways are proposed for evaluating the curricula that may be used not only to determine the best educational methods, but also to understand what skills and competence are important for a doctor to have in order to assist patients with their sexual problems. (Author/LBH)

The resident population of large mental hospitals has been reduced by two-thirds in 20 years, but chronic patients are being discharged to a lonely existence in hostile communities without adequate care. (Author/BB)

Undergraduate medical students are shown to improve their ability to make patient management decisions through the use of computer-assisted learning. With this problem-solving approach an improvement in their factual knowledge also occurs and they retain a significant amount of the content. (Author/LBH)

An updated report is offered of the successes and failures of the quality assurance program at the Medical College of Ohio during 1975-76. Students were used as auditors, submitting written evaluations of patient charts. (LBH)

An approach being used at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy to enhance the ability of pharmacy students to communicate effectively with their patients is described. The module consists of a syllabus, original videotapes, audiotapes, assigned readings, and evaluation tools. (LBH)

This article discusses trends in vision care and visual rehabilitation for elderly citizens, including: (1) the economizing effects of insurance and governmental policies regarding second opinions, generic medications, and use of less expensive equipment and personnel; (2) modern advances in cataracts and glaucoma; and (3) recommendations for…

A study compared the attitudes of men and women junior medical students at one medical school before and after a surgery clerkship concerning their confidence in dealing with problems in the doctor-patient relationship, concerns about future practice, and the value of preventive care. (MSE)

Discusses operation and format of a Gerontology Journal Club established at a teaching hospital as a continuing education modality to help experienced practitioners keep up with literature and translate new concepts into practice. Describes conceptual, practice, and program gains made by workers involved in the club. (NRB)

Compared self-poisoning patients with psychiatric patients and nonpatient controls on problem-solving skills and locus of control. The psychiatric and self-poisoning groups showed deficits on interpersonal problem solving compared with nonpatient controls. The self-poisoning group performed below or at the level of the psychiatric group. Locus of…