Communication difficulties in multicultural clinical settings can be exacerbated by translators, but their actual impact on medical decisions has not been systematically evaluated. This study sought to determine the influence of translators participating in clinical encounters in which English-speaking clinicians offered amniocentesis to…

Two frequently cited guidelines for writing multiple choice test item stems are: (1) the stem can be written in either a question or statement-to-be-completed format; and (2) only positively worded stems should be used. These guidelines were evaluated in a survey of the test item banks of 13 nationally administered examinations in the physician…

An approach to increasing the knowledge of and skills in intercultural interactions for medical students and residents is described. For medical students, a lecture on cross-cultural concepts for health care is incorporated into the second-year psychiatry and behavioral medicine course. For residents, in this case international medical school…

A survey was conducted of 56 clinical child psychologists, 93 school psychologists, 24 family physicians, and 24 pediatricians concerning assessment methods and interventions for use with children with attention deficit disorders (ADD). Survey results are compared with results of a 1986 survey by R. Rosenberg and S. Beck to assess changes over 6…

This paper presents an agenda for worldwide change in medical education to meet current and future requirements of society. The first of four sections offers the central arguments for change in medical education noting global patterns in the search for better use of resources for health care, describing a profound shift underway in the present…

This annual report details the activities of the National Council on Disability (NCD) in fiscal year 1997. These activities centered on public policy, civil rights, technology, and international policy. In addition, NCD continued its efforts to eliminate government duplication by organizing interagency coordination meetings to facilitate a…

This pamphlet presents the thoughts of six physician mentors in family practice and their third-year medical students, as they reflect on their practice and on their teaching or learning of clinical skills. An examination of the role of the family-practice physician as mentor may help teacher educators and cooperating teachers gain a valuable…

Individuals who work in the helping professions (physicians, counselors, nurses, pastors, and social workers) often work with individuals in stressful crisis situations. In addition to working in high stress situations, helpers in rural areas also suffer from isolation from support networks and peers that are available to urban helpers. This…

A sourcebook for 13 licensed health professions in Missouri is presented for 1980 and 1981. A brief overview of each profession is provided, along with statistical data concerning activity status, personal characteristics, practice characteristics, and place of professional education. The following professions are covered: chiropractors, dental…

This book brings together 24 contributions (from 13 European countries) about the role of self-help in the overall pattern of health care, dealing with both the practical and the theoretical: (1) "A Reorientation of Health Care?" (Ilona Kickbusch and Stephen Hatch); (2) "Self-help Groups in Primary Health Care" (David…

Areas of agreement/conflict between academic medical centers and investor owned corporations are considered. Academic medical centers are part of the university system, which is responsible for education, research, and the related public good (e.g., nurturing of professions). Major areas for a potential confluence of interest between the academic…

The medical student's emotions during direct clinical contact with the human body were studied, with emphasis on strategies the student uses to manage feelings when they are "inappropriate" or uncomfortable. Observations and interviews were completed over a 2-year period (1984-1986). Observations were made in the gross anatomy laboratory, physical…

A method for evaluating physicians' practice behavior after undertaking continuing medical education (CME) conducted by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) was developed and tested during 1983-1985. The literature on CME effectiveness and physician behavior change was reviewed. Physicians who were trained interviewers conducted telephone…

This "gray paper" addresses the concerns of older women regarding their control over death and dying. It is based on the observation that older women are devalued by society on account of both their age and gender, and hence are likely to be impoverished and vulnerable as they approach death. The paper begins by examining the legal,…

In California, school districts are categorized as public health screening centers and are required to have school doctors or school nurse practitioners provide complete physical examination services. A survey was conducted in a school district with an enrollment of about 12,000 students to determine parental attitudes toward this service, and…