Coping with cancer: a brief report on stress and coping strategies in medical students dealing with cancer patients.

Background: This pilot study explored factors associated with stress in medical students during their initial clinical contact with cancer patients, in particular identifying stress levels and coping strategies used.

Methods: A total of 80 medical students at The University of Birmingham Medical School, UK, completed retrospective self-report questionnaires measuring socio-demographics, potential stressors and coping strategies (using the Brief COPE inventory). Statistical analysis followed data collection.

Centrifugal versus roller head pumps for cardiopulmonary bypass: effect on early neuropsychologic outcomes after coronary artery surgery.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that routine use of a centrifugal pump in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit would result in a lower incidence of early neuropsychologic deficit when compared with conventional roller pumps.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind.

Setting: University teaching hospital.