Perceptions of obesity: Black and White differences.

To better understand similarities and differences in Black and White women's perceptions about obesity, we conducted race-matched focus groups with thirty physician-referred, obese women. Participants completed demographic questionnaires and body image assessments. Analysis yielded some common themes.

A collaborative approach to wellness: diet, exercise, and education to impact behavior change.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an interdisciplinary Wellness Program developed to help patients implement behavior changes necessary to begin weight reduction.

Data Sources: A 12-week program was developed to offer a choice of three diets, education, behavior change, and support groups that would allow participants to work through their concerns. A total of 109 participants provided feedback throughout the program and had varying degrees of change.

Survey of student education in surgery.

Background: Few data exist comparing medical student surgical education programs across the US and Canada. We conducted a 30-question, Web-based survey of 142 medical schools in the US and Canada about the administration of undergraduate surgical education programs at their institutions.

Study Design: From October 2005 to January 2006, 142 Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) medical schools in the US and Canada were asked to complete a 30-item, Web-based questionnaire.

The prevalence of dysphagia in primary care patients: a HamesNet Research Network study.

Purpose: A number of disorders cause dysphagia, which is the perception of an obstruction during swallowing. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of dysphagia in primary care patients.

Methods: Adults 18 years old and older were the subjects of an anonymous survey that was collected in the clinic waiting room before patients were seen by a physician.

Students assigned to community practices for their pediatric clerkship perform as well or better on written examinations as students assigned to academic medical centers.

Background: Medical schools are increasingly using community practice sites (CPS) for clerkship training.

Purposes: We compared the test performance of all students assigned to CPS with all students trained at an academic medical center (AMC) for their pediatric clerkship for the past 5 years.

Methods: Baseline comparability of both groups was established by the group mean scores on 1st and 2nd year medical school grade point average (GPA) and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2.