A four-year study found that, between internships and the end of residencies at the Oregon Health Sciences University, physicians' attitudes about their careers and residency experiences improved significantly, suggesting that, although internships may be dysphoric, normalization of emotional states and attitudes occurs during residency.…

When planning and developing an ambulatory clerkship, careful attention must be paid to the desired outcomes from the experience, the appropriate site, and instructional model to use to best meet the objectives. The major differences between ambulatory and inpatient educational settings are explored. (Author/MLW)

A study compared the knowledge, confidence, and attitudes regarding medical ethics of 55 house officers and 57 full-time faculty members of the Georgetown University (District of Columbia) Department of Medicine. Results indicated low knowledge levels in both groups, higher faculty confidence, and somewhat more faculty sentiment for mandatory…

A study of 20 graduate medical students who received unfavorable evaluations and 20 who received the highest evaluations found little difference between the groups in medical school admission qualifications, overall academic achievement, or standardized test performance. Ratings appear to be the result of personal or motivational issues, not…

This article briefly describes the four-year primary care program (beginning in the senior year of medical school and sponsored by the departments of internal medicine and family medicine) offered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine. Preliminary evidence indicates that the seven students and residents enrolled are…

A study compared the performance of six cohorts of family physicians (711 practice-qualified physicians certified in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1,233 residency-trained physicians certified in 1977, 1978, 1979) recertified in 1977-1991. Results indicate declines in performance on each recertification examination and better performance by…

A study investigated the clinical preparedness of 144 Stanford University (California) medical school graduates in 11 areas, comparing it with peers from graded medical schools and rating the accuracy of the dean's letter in representing graduates' capabilities. Results indicate that graduates from Stanford's two-interval, pass/fail system…

When physicians ascribe errors to systemic causes, they may be less likely to modify future behaviors and more likely to repeat past errors. Academic medical centers should balance protecting patients from errors that a systems approach can identify against providing optimal education for house officers by teaching them to focus also on personal…

This volume primarily contains the detailed reports of the subcommittees on physician manpower, foreign medical graduates, financing of graduate medical education, and minority representation in medicine. Detailed background information and considerations used by the subcommittee in developing the conclusions and recommendations are provided.…

An attempt was made to determine the increase in predictive efficiency attained by adding noncognitive to cognitive variables to predict clinical performance of medical school graduates in residency training. Fifty-six graduates, 45 males, and 11 females, in 33 reading programs representing various specialties, were evaluated by supervisory…

A large pediatric residency program conducted an extensive analysis of the reliability and validity of the rating forms used to evaluate the pediatric residents enrolled in the program. Data indicate that although the reliability of individual ratings is very low, several factors achieved acceptable levels of reliability when aggregated.…

Evaluating a person's physical and psychological make-up along with physical and cultural environment are skills that must be learned by physicians-in-training. The faculty of the Boston City Hospital Primary Care Training Program uses the home visit to help residents develop these skills. (Author/MLW)

A method for selecting performance variables to be used in the evaluation of the clinical performance of internal medicine residents is described. Twenty of the highest ranking variables are listed, as determined by the formal sampling of the opinion of full-time and volunteer faculty and residents associated with the University of Nebraska. (JMD)

The humanistic qualities of 70 University of Michigan first-year internal medicine residents were rated in 1987-88 and 1988-89 by patients, attending physicians, supervisors, and nurses. Results indicate that all four groups had different view of the humanistic attributes of residents in patient interactions. (Author/MSE)

A study of 28 medical residents' skills in evaluating research compared student evaluations of a journal article with 1 developed by means of a Delphi technique utilizing 5 experts. Residents' scores were not significantly associated with residency year or self-assessed critical appraisal skill. The method is proposed as an objective means of…