Since the medical interview is usually considered to be the basis of all diagnosis and treatment in medicine, this study investigated alternative ways of improving medical interview techniques. To test the hypothesis that the visual (videotape) technique would be more effective than the lecturing or audiotape technique, 12 videotaped interviews were made between a physician and various professional models who served as patients, and a postgraduate course in medical interviewing was developed. After the course, an evaluation was made of the content-learning gain and also of the attitudinal changes in training. The programed instruction in medical interviewing was found to be as effective as two alternative instructional methods in meeting its teaching goals, and the evidence suggested that it was more effective. (BC)