Factors influencing rural Wisconsin elders in completing advance directives.

PURPOSE: Advance directives can assist in end-of-life decision-making. This study explores the factors that influence completion of advance directives. METHODS: Qualitative study using in-depth interviews of 10 patients over age 60 in a rural office practice. RESULTS: Major themes: (1) patient autonomy: the patient and family role as decision maker, the physician as educator; (2) barriers that deter patients from completing advance directives include fear and confusion about these documents; and (3) quality of life is an important value in end-of-life decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making about advance directives is a personal and family issue, but physician efforts to initiate the process and educate patients are important, especially if done routinely in the office or preferably in community settings. The main difference between those who do and don't complete advance directives is an understanding of the documents and their purpose.

New world views: preparing physicians in training for global health work.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of international health experiences on physicians in training, we studied 60 US medical students who participated in an International Health Fellowship Program (IHFP). METHODS: In 1995 and 1996, US medical students were selected to participate in the IHFP, which included training at three US medical schools and at seven medical schools in developing countries. The program included a 2-week preparatory course at a US school and a 6- to 8-week field experience. Evaluative data were collected prior to the course, after the course, after the field experience, and 1-2 years later. RESULTS: A total of 60 students were selected from 145 applicants. At the end of the fellowship, a majority of participants noted that the exposure affected them in the following ways: changed world views; increased cultural sensitivity; enhanced community, social, and public health awareness; enhanced clinical and communication skills; more appropriate resource utilization; changes in career plans; and a greater understanding of the challenges of working in areas with scarce resources. After the international field experience, students more strongly agreed with the importance of oral rehydration, communication skills, and patient education. According to student self-assessments, the IHFP significantly improved core medical skills. Ninety-six percent of participants recommended international health experiences for other students. CONCLUSIONS: This study of IHFP fellows demonstrates multiple significant impacts of international health experiences on US medical students in training. The knowledge, attitudes, and skills gained through international health experiences are important for medical practice in the United States and abroad. Given the high interest of medical students in international health and the potential for positive educational impacts, medical schools should increase the availability of high-quality international experiences.

Integrating prevention education into the medical school curriculum: the role of departments of family medicine.

Departments of family medicine--including departments of family and community medicine, departments of family and preventive medicine, and departments of family practice-at U.S. medical schools regularly participate in teaching prevention principles to students, using a variety of formats and methods. Required clinical experiences (i.e., clerkships and preceptorships), required nonclinical courses, and electives frequently include prevention content. Collaborative interdisciplinary clerkships, interdisciplinary nonclinical courses, and courses directed by other departments also enable family medicine faculty to teach prevention principles. This article describes examples of innovative educational programs in which family medicine faculty teach prevention content to medical students. Directions for future educational efforts by family medicine faculty in the prevention area are proposed.

Precepting preclinical students.

Preclinical preceptors have an opportunity to imprint students with good clinical work habits, professionalism, and excitement for medical education. While attention to the multiple roles of the preclinical preceptor can add responsibilities to a busy physician's day, the chance to influence the development of future physicians is deeply gratifying.

Student and faculty collaboration in a clinic for the medically underserved.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Growing numbers of uninsured and underinsured individuals in the United States have resulted in increased needs for health care for medically underserved populations. Educational strategies are needed that provide opportunities for students to develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary for providing quality health care for underserved patients. METHODS: Medical students, residents, and faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School worked together to establish extracurricular opportunities for first- and second-year students to participate in medical clinics serving the poor and homeless. The process for the development and operation of a volunteer clinic is described. RESULTS: In the last 2 years, 163 medical students, 27 residents, and 21 faculty have provided care to more than 1,000 patients. Patients, students, residents, and faculty reported high satisfaction with the experience. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students, residents, and faculty working in collaboration can provide increased access to care for the medically underserved. Engaging in community-oriented primary health care early in their medical education provided positive learning opportunities for medical students, especially those interested in generalist careers.

Where there is no family doctor: the development of family practice around the world.

Family physicians are generalists trained at the postgraduate level to address the majority of primary care needs of patients of all ages in communities they serve. Throughout the world there is a need for family physicians to serve as cornerstones of comprehensive health care systems that provide high-quality, cost-effective medical and public health services to the entire population. To meet this need, each country must value and adequately finance essential medical and public health services and must provide family physicians with a thorough education focused on the relevant health care problems of the population being served. The authors present an overview of the status of this training throughout the world, outline challenges to the development of such training, and suggest strategies for successful development accompanied by illustrative case studies from South Korea, Venezuela, and Pakistan.

Family medicine postgraduate training in Pakistan.

There is no organized system of postgraduate training for family medicine or general practice in Pakistan. This paper describes the status of primary health care delivery in Pakistan and the growth of family medicine throughout the world. It stresses the need for organized postgraduate training relevant to the needs of primary health care in Pakistan and describes efforts currently under-way in this regard at the Aga Khan University Medical Centre (AKUMC) in collaboration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan.

Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery.

The safety of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) delivery has been documented. Fetal and neonatal morbidity is not increased, and the mortality rate is less than one in 2,000 deliveries. Maternal morbidity and mortality rates for VBAC delivery are significantly lower than those for repeat cesarean section. Family physicians should inform patients about the option of VBAC delivery and should support the provision of this service at hospitals with appropriate facilities.