Effect of training location on students' clinical skills.

The clinical skills of second-year medical students trained in a hospital-based setting were compared with those of students trained in a community setting using an objective structured clinical exam. No statistically significant difference was found.

Stuttering: a brief review.

The etiology of stuttering is controversial. The prevailing theories point to measurable neurophysical dysfunctions that disrupt the precise timing required to produce speech. Stuttering is a common disorder that usually resolves by adulthood. Almost 80 percent of children who stutter recover fluency by the age of 16 years. Mild stuttering is self-limited, but more severe stuttering requires speech therapy which is the mainstay of treatment. Delayed auditory feedback and computer-assisted training are currently used to help slow down speech and control other speech mechanisms. Pharmacologic therapy is seldom used, although haloperidol has been somewhat effective.

The internal reliability of a General Mattering Scale in homeless men.

199 homeless men were administered the General Mattering Scale to assess their belief that they mattered to others in their community. Analysis indicated that homeless men felt that they were important to others, that others pay attention to them, that they would be missed by others if they went away, that people were interested in what they had to say, and that others depended on them. The General Mattering Scale displayed strong internal consistency (Cronbach alpha of 85).

Tuberculosis in the homeless.

The prevalence of tuberculosis in the homeless is on the rise. The presence of human immunodeficiency virus and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the homeless has contributed to this high prevalence. Several factors, including alcoholism, substance abuse, and psychiatric illness, combine to make it difficult to diagnose and treat tuberculosis in the homeless. Medical providers are likely to encounter homeless individuals in a number of settings, including emergency departments, community and free clinics, public hospitals, and health maintenance organizations. Appropriate screening, prevention, and treatment should be undertaken in collaboration with local health departments. The use of directly observed therapy and of the treatment regimens published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improves treatment outcomes among the homeless.

The effects of video advertising on physician recruitment to a family practice residency program.

BACKGROUND: The number of medical students entering family practice residencies has been decreasing in recent years. In an effort to increase this number, many family practice residencies send videos describing their programs to prospective applicants. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of video advertising on resident recruitment. METHODS: In the fall of 1992, a short promotional video was produced to highlight many aspects of the University of Maryland Family Practice Residency Program. The video was sent to half of all persons who applied to the program. RESULTS: Of the 248 inquiries, 120 (48%) received the video. Of these, 35 (29%) completed the application compared with 69 (54%) who received routine materials only. Applicants who did not receive the video were 2.86 times more likely (95% confidence interval 1.6-5.0) to apply to our program (P < 0.0001). None of the applicants who received the video matched with the program (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Residency recruitment videos may have a negative impact on residency recruitment.