Because physicians are perceived as powerful and knowledgeable professionals, the language they use to address patients has a tremendous effect on a patient's mental and physical well-being. Physicians often speak to patients in "med-speak," obscure, highly technical terms that cloak the reality of the patient's condition and serve to reinforce…

Proposals have been developed to clarify physician responsibility in withholding treatment to terminally ill patients. These proposals seek to provide a legal shield against malpractice proceedings and to reduce confusion over how to resolve high medical costs through standardizing procedures for withholding treatment. When first published,…

In human speech, messages are conveyed to listeners through both verbal and vocal sources. Comparing verbal content-only with verbal plus vocal content permits assessment of the contribution of vocal cues in spoken messages. This study involved evaluations of physicians interacting with patients via the telephone. Thirty doctor-patient…

In previous research, two major sets of variables have been identified as correlates of emotional well-being among the elderly: measures of physical health and of social support. To suggest variables predictive of in-hospital discharge planning, and of emotional well-being after a severe incident of ill health, the Posthospital Support Study…

Holism in health care, and specifically in pharmacy, are discussed, along with the views of patients and professionals concerning expanded pharmacists' roles, and the effects of those roles. In describing holism in health care, attention is directed to holism and several concepts: wellness versus the absence of disease; prevention; mind, body, and…

Form level is a major element in the scoring and interpretation of Rorschach responses. Exner's 1974 text and 1976 comprehensive system workbook provided helpful norms and scoring conventions for determining form quality, but its 1985 revision appeared to lead to generally lower levels of form quality. To examine this clinical impression, the…

This book, on the nature and problems of inappropriate drug use by older adults, provides researchers and health practitioners with an up-to-date survey and overview of the literature on drug use, misuse, and abuse among the elderly. The volume provides abstracts of 100 selected scientific articles on the major topic areas in the field. The…

Many recent studies have investigated the persisting negative impact of childhood and adolescent sexual victimization on later adult psychological functioning and adjustment. This study assessed psychopathology in a clinical sample of 30 women with histories of intra-familial sexual victimization, 22 women with histories of extra-familial sexual…

This learning activity package on confidentiality is one of a series of 12 titles developed for use in health occupations education programs. Materials in the package include objectives, a list of materials needed, a list of definitions, information sheets, and answers to reviews. These topics are covered: confidentiality, when not to discuss…

A study investigated the relationships among the social perception processes, person-centered communicative strategies, and the mediating factors of empathy and context-relevant beliefs of physicians. Subjects, 46 first-year medical students, were first interviewed on a series of structured tasks that assessed their constructs for perceiving…

The extension of the instructional programming process, as outlined by Markle and Tiemann (1967), to the treatment of psychiatric in-patients is described. Three case studies are presented as examples of the application of the programming procedures as derived from the Constructional Model of Dr. Israel Goldiamond. The emphasis throughout all…

A special project for aged, hospitalized mental patients, drawing on home economics skills in a team approach to rehabilitation, provides skills training leading to patients' increased capacity for self-care, helps patients transfer from the hospital to some form of community life, and provides follow-up services. (Author/AJ)

Reports a study of consultants' critiques on the records of patients treated by house officers which indicates that they provide a convenient tool for evaluation of clinical performance by house officers and an indirect measurement of the quality of teaching and patient care within a medical training program. (JT)

This description of the Cedar Valley Hospice program emphasizes palliative and supportive care for terminally ill patients and their families. The history of the hospice movement is outlined along with a description of the Cedar Valley program and the results of a 1980 program evaluation. The appendices contain a statement of the hospice goals and…