Analysis of results from the National Resident Matching Program from 1980, 1983, and 1987 show students seeking categorical surgery residencies were less likely to be matched with programs in high-density Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome areas. Implications for medical education are examined. (Author/MSE)

Conducted chart review of inpatient dementia patients cared for by neurology, psychiatry, medicine, and surgery services at university hospital. Found differences in symptom profiles, hospital utilization trends, medical comorbidity, and post-hospitalization dispositions. Examined how patients entered hospital system, were assigned to different…

Examines the characteristics and problems of Canadian Indian psychiatric patients in an urban community care setting. Compares 25 Canada Native patients and 100 matched Anglo patients in terms of socioeconomic factors, transiency, selected clinical characteristics, social networks, and prior and current psychiatric service utilization. Contains 24…

Examines data from four years of operation of a program to manage after-hours pediatrics calls using specially trained pediatric nurses with standardized protocols to provide triage and advice. Found that over 100,000 calls had been successfully managed without adverse clinical outcomes. Satisfaction among subscribing pediatricians was 100%, and…

Seventy clients participated in eight focus groups intended to identify clients' perceptions of vocational rehabilitation program strengths and weaknesses. The advantages of using a social science model applied to focus groups and the ways client empowerment can be a central theme in such efforts are explored. (SLD)

Examines the major transactions regarding violence during the course of transcribed psychiatric evaluations for 92 recently violent patients. Coded and cross-tabulated the mentioning and action taken for patients describing violence. Findings support a progressive decrease in the discussion of violence and apparent breaches in the flow of…

Surveyed 63 people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in either their first, second, or fifth year post-injury. Results indicated that perceived levels of self-esteem decreased following the SCI. Found that self-esteem was lowest in the second year of injury. Self-esteem may be connected to loss of employment. (RJM)

Examined adolescents' perceptions of their family environments and suicidal behavior. Fifteen suicidal adolescents, 14 psychiatric controls, and 14 normal controls rated their families on cohesiveness, adaptability, parent-adolescent communication, parental caring, and parental overprotectiveness. Suicidal adolescents rated their families as least…

A survey of Oregon dentists (n=248) and dental hygienists (n=235) investigated frequency of patient-initiated sexual advances and methods of dealing with them. Up to 44 percent experienced 1 or more patient verbal advances, and 23 percent experienced physical advances during a 5-year period. Inclusion of related issues in professional curricula is…

A study of factors influencing medical students to choose primary care careers, in contrast with high-technology careers, found students attracted by opportunity to provide direct care, ambulatory care, continuity of care, and involvement in psychosocial aspects of care. Age, race, gender, marital status, and some attitudes were not influential.…

The use of videotape recordings of resident-patient encounters for review of medical situations and issues is discussed. Practices at McMaster University (Ontario) are described, and two examples in which the recordings helped students develop objectivity are presented. It is proposed that the method is useful and feasible. (Author/MSE)

Sport-specific preparticipation examinations do not address social problems (drug abuse, suicide, murder, accidents, and sex) epidemic among teenagers, but they are often the only contact these youth have with a physician. This article discusses these risk factors and presents methods for assessing them during preparticipation exams. (SM)

A study of medical clerkship students' time allocations found the greatest time expenditures in personal activities, then organized educational activities (rounds, conferences, lectures, chartwork, patient contact, examination study, ancillary activities, procedures, and directed study. Students slept 5.8 hours per night. Better balance of patient…

Gender and decade-of-life effects on quality-of-life (QOL) experiences of the chronically mentally ill (CMI) are examined using data (n=469) from previous QOL research. Gender and decade-of-life affect objective QOL experiences more than life satisfaction. Data show a difference in midlife psychological adjustment between CMI males and females.…

In a survey, 1,851 registered nurses evaluated 232 internists' humanistic qualities, communication skills, and selected aspects of their clinical skills. Their ratings corresponded moderately with peer physician evaluations and had a common structure but were lower for several humanistic qualities. A reliable assessment required 11-15 nurses'…