The role of Balint group training in the professional and personal development of family medicine residents.

This paper presents a study based on the participation of PGY2 and PGY3 family medicine residents in Balint seminars that occurred twice monthly for 24 months. Balint groups were cofacilitated by leader pairs experienced with the Balint method. Prior to residency graduation, 18 of 19 eligible resident physicians (94.

Balint groups: the nuts and bolts of making better doctors.

Balint Group seminars were developed by Michael and Enid Balint based on the application of psychological principles in a group setting for the purpose of developing an improved understanding of the doctor-patient relationship. This article focuses on the development and application of the Balint method to the training of resident physicians (particularly Family Physicians) within the United States. An effort is made to describe the practicalities of resident physician Balint training (e.

Executive function and medical non-adherence: a different perspective.

Medical non-adherence is multifactorial: cost, convenience, side effect profile, and cognitive impairment are all implicated in medical nonadherence. We explore impaired executive function (EF) as a cause for medical non-adherence when other causes can be ruled out. EF describes the coordination and manipulation of higher-order cognitive processes involved in problem-solving, planning, and decision-making.

Physician pattern of patient notification of test results.

Objective: To discover how community-based family physicians notify patients of test results and whether there are differences based on sex, length of time in practice, reimbursement status, employment status,or percentage of practice in managed care.

Methods: We mailed a survey to 500 randomly selected members of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. All analyses were preformed using SASTM version 8.

Quality improvement for prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke in an academic family medicine center: do racial differences in outcome exist?

Objectives: We evaluated whether a one-year, multifaceted quality improvement intervention improved adherence to 13 clinical guidelines for lipid screening, hypertension management, and diabetes management among White and African-American adult patients.

Setting: An academic family medicine center.

Participants: Six faculty physicians and a clinical pharmacist participated between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2003.

Views of family medicine department Chairs about mentoring junior faculty.

Mentoring can be a key component contributing to the success of faculty. We investigated the attitudes of family medicine department Chairs toward mentoring, with emphasis on mentoring female and minority faculty. This qualitative inquiry used semi-structured interviews with 13 Chairs of US departments of family medicine.

Applying Theory to Assess Cultural Competency.

Using a theoretical cultural competency model, the effectiveness of a cultural competency learning assignment was examined to determine: 1) students' cultural competency levels as reflected through the assignment, and 2) the effectiveness of the assignment as a cultural competency learning activity. Third-year family medicine clerkship students completed a required project to research and reflect upon a patient's "cultural belief." Applying a model of cultural competence development, a content analysis of written project reports determined what level of cultural competence was expressed by students' reflections.

How does pre-admission community service compare with community service during medical school?

Background: Little research has examined the link between premedical community service and subsequent community service undertaken in medical school.

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between applicants' community service history with reported community service experiences during medical school.

Methods: Admission files were retrospectively reviewed and community service hours during medical school were totaled for 2003 graduates at the study institution.

Student observations and ratings of preceptor's interactions with patients: the hidden curriculum.

Background: Professional values and behavior are conveyed to students through both formal and informal curricular activities.

Purpose: This study examined 1st-year students' observations of community-based physicians' behaviors during a community-based clinical experience.

Methods: First-year students completed a 14-item instrument regarding their community-based physicians' behavior with patients.

Implementation and assessment of a spiritual history taking curriculum in the first year of medical school.

Background: The Association of American Medical Colleges has recommended addressing spirituality in the medical curriculum.

Description: To evaluate the impact of a spiritual history-taking curriculum on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of 1st year medical students. The study implemented a spiritual history-taking curriculum in the 1st year of medical school that included reading assignments, practice history taking, and standardized patient (SP) scenarios with spiritual content.

Nocturnal enuresis.

Nocturnal enuresis is a common problem that can be troubling for children and their families. Recent studies indicate that nocturnal enuresis is best regarded as a group of conditions with different etiologies. A genetic component is likely in many affected children.

Alopecia in women.

Alopecia can be divided into disorders in which the hair follicle is normal but the cycling of hair growth is abnormal and disorders in which the hair follicle is damaged. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in women. Other disorders include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, cicatricial alopecia, and traumatic alopecias.

Patient use of automatic blood pressure measures in retail stores: implications for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

This study examined the simple behavior on the part of hypertensive patients of having their blood pressure checked at a retail store. We found that hypertensive patients checked their blood pressure frequently using these automated machines, believe them to be accurate, and frequently make health care decisions based on the reading they obtain. The inaccuracy of these machines is apparently not widely known.