Development of a course designed to help dental students integrate interpersonal and clinical skills to help periodontal patients accept and adhere to long-term self-care regimens is described. An algorithm illustrates to students the process of plaque control and the patient's role. (MSE)

An Albany Medical College program utilizes private internists' offices as sites for resident ambulatory education. The private practitioner is perceived as an excellent teacher and role model who provides a positive effect on the long-term career goals of residents. (MLW)

The effectiveness of medical consultation studied at Johns Hopkins Hospital was measured as a function of compliance by the requesting physicians with the consultants' recommendations. Compliance rates are discussed. The definitiveness of the advice offered was significantly related to compliance. (MLW)

This article demonstrates the usefulness of the Nursing Classification System (NCS) as an operational planning and control tool. Here the authors introduce and illustrate the concept of workload indexing, a means by which the NCS assists in defining staffing needs and monitoring workload and performance. (SSH)

A comparison of resident and faculty teaching behaviors found that predominant overall behaviors were responding to student questions and addressing psychosocial and problem-solving issues. Residents spent more time at the bedside and saw more patients in their sessions. The roles are seen as complementary and not duplicative. (Author/MSE)

Examined adequacy of family functioning related to the health status of its members. Studied 46 heart patients and concluded that families of most patients functioned fairly well. Found family functioning unrelated to health as determined by objective indicators or self-perception, and unrelated to depression but negatively related to anxiety.…

A study is described that identified a set of measureable skills, evaluated the effects of a simulated patient program on students' observed interview skills, and tested the ability of trained simulators to evaluate interview skills by comparing simulator ratings and faculty ratings of the same interviews. (MLW)

Research literature dealing with physicians' attitudes toward alcoholism, reasons for their feelings, and attempts to change them through teaching is reviewed. It is suggested that, due to the limited time in the medical school curriculum, emphasis should be on physician attitudes. A Yale-VA Medical Center course on alcoholism is described.…

Social workers may offer clients four types of support: protection, acceptance, validation, and education. Social workers must examine their own attitudes toward support as well as evaluate the support they receive within their professional settings. They must also assess clients' needs. (Author)

A study was conducted to test the criterion validity of a set of written patient management problems (PMPs) through a comparison of pharmacist performance on the PMPs and performance in the practice setting. The PMPs were replicated in the practice setting by actors. Inconsistencies between PMP performance and practice performance were noted.…

Questionnaires, returned by nurses and clinical year medical students at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center and Portland Veterans Administration hospitals, were examined to clarify how well traditional teaching strategy is meeting medical students' need to acquire competency in clinical ward skills. A need for increased and systematic…

An academic general medicine clinic (GMC) was studied and profiles were generated to determine current patterns, shortcomings, and potential solutions. Conclusions include that GMC offers insufficient variety of patient presentations for optimal postgraduate medical education and inadequate accessibility for comprehensive medical care. (Author/JMD)

A seminar devoted to the psychological aspects of medical care has formed the major portion of the psychiatric training of primary care internal medicine residents at the Kenmore Center of the Harvard Community Health Plan. Content issues include professional identity, relationships with coworkers, and difficulties in handling patients.…

A program in dental care for the handicapped offered at the University of North Carolina is described. Results of a survey of program participants over a five-year period indicates that the program results in decreased fear and anxiety about treating handicapped patients. (JMF)

A total of 73 studies on the teaching of medical interviewing have been reviewed and the conclusions and implications for teaching and research are summarized. Topics include student improvement, student feedback, instructional design, interview skills, technological assistance, and patient satisfaction. (JMD)