A study investigated optimal length of screening tests used to sort out medical students needing to take a full-length performance-based standardized-patient test from those not needing it. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined a good length is one-third the full test, with cutoff just above the mean case pass level. (Author/MSE)

Examined adaptation to chronic pain in 118 patients. Control appraisals, ignoring pain, using coping self-statements, and increasing activities were positively related to psychological functioning. Control appraisals, diverting attention, ignoring pain, and using coping self-statements were positively related to activity level for patients…

Studies in five senior medical school classes at Southern Illinois University investigated whether using multiple standardized patients to simulate the same case in postclerkship medical student evaluation affects the measure's reliability. Results of three studies show little or no effect on reliability of total, checklist, or written test…

Residents benefit from general practice dental residencies by getting training in areas not adequately covered in the undergraduate curriculum and having time to mature professionally. Patients benefit from improved care and increased access to services. Greater attention should go to the quality and types of services such programs make possible.…

Surveyed clinical social workers (n=216) concerning rights of psychiatric patients who are involuntarily committed to institutions. Although majority of respondents support patients' rights, minority demonstrated restrictive attitudes and unawareness of existing laws regarding patients' rights. Controversial issues, such as right to refuse…

Notes that there often is no formally established bereavement service designed to assist surviving family members, patients, or staff members when patient dies while receiving care in acute care setting. Presents exemplar bereavement service using data from few existing or proposed efforts to formalize bereavement services in acute care settings…

Reviews climate in legal and clinical formulation of standards of care for hospitalized adult suicidal patients. Suggests general guidelines for effective assessment, management, and treatment procedures that balance need for high-quality care by reasonable and prudent practitioner with requirements of court-determined/statutory standards.…

The construct validity of neuropsychological tests in patients with schizophrenia was studied with 39 patients who were evaluated with a battery of six tests assessing attention, memory, and abstract reasoning abilities. Results support the construct validity of the neuropsychological tests in patients with schizophrenia. (SLD)

Studied the validity of the Atopic Dermatitis Assessment Measure (D. Charman and others, 1999) with 171 pediatric patients in Australia using partial credit analyses to produce clinically relevant "word pictures" of grades of severity for atopic dermatitis. Discusses implications for measurement in medicine. (SLD)

Surveys 85 health care professionals on the learning difficulties of diabetic patients. Results show that educators find it easy to teach techniques: patients master procedures well and make few mistakes. In contrast, diabetic patients seem to have problems learning skills, such as insulin dose adjustment, that require complex problem-solving.…

Tests the feasibility of a one-year group education model for patients with type 2 diabetes in Sweden. Within study circles led by pharmacists, participants learned to self-monitor glucose, to interpret the results and to act upon them. Results show that study circles held at pharmacies are a feasible way of education persons with type 2 diabetes.…

A Medicaid retrospective therapeutic intervention was designed to notify physicians about their patients' long-term use of sedatives and suggest to them that they reevaluate the patient's need for sedative hypnotic medication. Physicians' responses and follow-up actions are reported. Practice implications and the need for physician education are…

Women having an induced abortion in an urban clinic were studied. First, second, and third time aborters (N=150) were interviewed. Variables including reasons for choosing abortion, life situations, contraceptive risk-taking, and ease of becoming pregnant were examined. Related studies and suggestions for postabortion counseling are discussed.…

A review of studies of word learning by normal adults and children, neuropsychological patients, and special development populations provides evidence that the phonological loop plays a crucial role in learning the novel phonological forms of new words, suggesting that the phonological loop stores unfamiliar sound patterns while more permanent…

Discusses the development and implementation of a surgery-patient education program in two Dutch hospitals. Evaluation of the new program shows that the specified information was provided to only a limited extent, partly because of problems with the implementation process and partly because some information was made available for patients to use…