Examines the problems technical innovation has brought to health care professionals, administrators, and patients from the standpoints of increased specialization, equipment obsolescence, bureaucracy, retraining, regulations, high costs of services, depersonalization, and ethical dilemmas. (CT)

Results of in-depth interviews with 32 elderly Mexican Americans revealed minimal potential hazardous drug interactions. Mexican Americans showed a disinclination to utilize over-the-counter drugs to alleviate minor ailments. Professionals involved in health care delivery systems for the aging should become aware of the special needs of ethnic…

An evaluation scheme developed from a dispositional assessment perspective is described and applied to vocational rehabilitation cases from a rural context. The dispositional model is considerably more conservative than a diagnostic or predictive model and provides useful feedback about weak aspects of the assessment process. (Author)

Since first-year psychiatric residents were observed to lack many interviewing skills necessary for both physicians and psychiatrists, a method of teaching the skills in a group setting with live patients was constructed. Research results supported self-report changes in empathy, congruence, and level of regard. (Author/LBH)

The initial phase of the Primary Care Education Program, a course of instruction for a limited number of students at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, is described. It was designed to increase knowledge of primary care and doctor-patient relationship, and knowledge of a variety of modes of structuring health care…

The training procedures used in teaching senior year pharmacy students the skills necessary to perform a medication history are described. The training involves videotaping medication histories with actual patients and evaluating the videotapes in small groups. (LBH)

To be in attendance to the dying and help them with the process of reorganizing the materials for coping in this kind of intense life-destructive crisis is a rare privilege. Presented at the Conference on Death and Dying: Education, Counseling, and Care, December 1-3, 1976, Orlando, Florida. (Author)

Describes the use of a short, fictional story about a woman's surgery to illustrate issues and promote discussion about biomedical ethics, particularly the issue of informed consent. Discussion connects the personal story with specific litigation, comparing legal requirements and ethical responsibility in physician-patient communication. (MSE)

Data from primary care physicians attending a workshop on Alzheimer's disease included 21 pretests, 14 posttests, and 17 interviews. Results showed that 41% had used workshop materials to train other health care providers; all felt better able to conduct patient education. (SK)

A study assessed the reading ability of 50 clients at a rural Midwest women's health center and the readability of 10 of the clinic's health information materials. One in six women could not read all of the patient information, which could limit their understanding and achievement of good health care. Discusses implications for practice. (Contains…

The development of the medical examination as a tool in diagnosing child sexual abuse is discussed. The role of the medical professional in promoting conservative and appropriate diagnosis and treatment and in providing a scientific base for the recognition of child sexual abuse is reviewed. (CR)

An item-response-theory approach was used to evaluate test and item functioning for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist--Revised (R. D. Hare, 1991) using data from 2,067 North American patients and prisoners. Analyses support the use of the test for diagnosis of psychopathic personality disorder and measures of trait strength. (SLD)

Evaluates the Post-Hospital Support Program for frail elderly patients at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore (Maryland) who were returning home to the care of a non-paid caregiver for at least a year. Results showed reduction in caregiver stress and in number of days spent in hospital after initial release. (JS)

This study was designed to determine whether opportunities exist to reduce patient morbidity and health care costs by utilizing health care services before diseases progress to advanced stages. Hospital admissions were categorized based on the timing of the initial hospitalizations of patients admitted with any of 14 diagnoses. (Author/MLW)

Three reasons for teaching medical ethics during residency are presented. Key ethical concepts to be addressed include moral aspects of medical practice, obtaining informed consent, dealing with incompetent patients and those who refuse treatment, knowing when to withhold or disclose clinical information, and using medical resources properly. (MSE)