Health providers in private practice have no legal duties to treat AIDS and HIV-infected individuals except in specific situations. However, they do have a professional duty to treat or locate the ailment and refer the patient for appropriate treatment. (BJV)

Emphasizes the usefulness of integrating communicative and literary analyses to study the symbolic and pragmatic aspects of human relationships. Describes a health care course that teaches practitioner-patient communication through the application of communication theory to literary "case studies." Uses a scene from "The Elephant…

Examines the way bureaucratic practices and background or schematized knowledge can influence physician-patient and physician-physician interaction and language in medical diagnostic reasoning. Provides a case study that illustrates the bureaucratic processes presupposed in the production and reproduction of knowledge in practical scientific…

A format was devised for nursing home rounds that provides for discussion among staff members and specialists and is aimed at teaching and the resolution of specific patient-care and administrative issues. Many complex medical problems were handled without transferring the patients to an acute-care facility. (Author/MLW)

A well-received third-year seminar in dental treatment plan presentation used videotaping of student presentations for self- and peer-evaluation. Students liked the faculty-student interaction and the feedback provided in the seminar, but many felt it would be more helpful if offered earlier in the curriculum. The evaluation form is included. (MSE)

A required second-year course in medical interviewing contains a module in managing the difficult interview. The content includes classification of difficult interactions, identification of specific interview problems, recognition and use of the interviewer's own feelings as information about the patient, and acquisition of accurate and precise…

Argues that adjustment to nursing homes is influenced by peer group and staff-patient interaction. Concludes that both staff and residents place demands and expectations on newcomers' conduct, and staff define successful and unsuccessful adjustment so that patients are constrained in the range of socially acceptable behavior they are permitted to…

The demographic, diagnostic, and prognostic characteristics of patients treated by house staff members rotating through the general medical wards of the Houston Veterans Administration Medical Center was studied. The data indicate that VA hospitals make a significant contribution to internal medicine training. (Author/MLW)

A study of one institution's baccalaureate pharmacy students' attitudes about cancer, chemotherapy, and related pharmaceutical practice roles examined four factors: pharmacist-patient conflict, patient rights, vigorous treatment, and acceptance. Results revealed male-female attitudinal differences as well as differences correlating with marital…

Opinions were obtained from residents, family medicine faculty, and attending physicians familiar with an established family medicine residency program regarding the tasks that family doctors should and should not perform. (LBH)

Australia's Occupational English Test (OET) for health professionals was developed in response to the need for immigrant health professions workers to have increased awareness of Australian colloquialisms, improved language training, both in general and within the professions, and cultural awareness training. The test assesses speaking, reading,…

Emphasis on family medicine has resulted in three problems: definition, discrepancies between objectives and practice, and the lack of a specialized body of knowledge. Training should concentrate on simple but more effective goals, enhanced compassion and empathy, and improved communication skills, understanding of emotional needs, and counseling…

Private patients surveyed generally were favorable to resident involvement in their care. Most would allow limited responsibilities in residents: history-taking, physical examination, and visit scheduling. Most wished faculty consultation at each visit and advance knowledge of the resident's participation. (MSE)

A set of instructional materials for acquisition of clinical reasoning skills through independent study has been developed that uses simulation of patient encounters and addresses both medical and psychosocial issues. Small group instruction with the materials is preferred over individual use. (MSE)

Choice of content, teaching methods, and program coordination are discussed. The role of the program coordinator is seen as seeking out relevant resources and ensuring that they are used rather than glossed over. (MSE)