Incorporating Older Adults as "Trained Patients" to Teach Advance Care Planning to Third-Year Medical Students.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a critical component of end-of-life (EoL) care, yet infrequently taught in medical training.

Objective: We designed a novel curriculum that affords third-year medical students (MS3s) the opportunity to practice EoL care discussions with a trained older adult in the patient's home.

Design: Volunteers were instructed as trained patients (TPs) to evaluate MS3s interviewing and communication skills.

Medical Student Interest in Flexible Residency Training Options.

Background And Objectives: Medical residents continue to experience high rates of burnout during residency training even after implementation of the 2003 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour restrictions. The purpose of this study is to determine medical student interest in flexible residency training options.

Methods: Researchers developed an 11-question survey for second through fourth-year medical students.

PURLs: Why you shouldn't start beta-blockers before surgery.

A new meta-analysis finds that initiating beta-blockers before surgery increases patients' risk of death.

An obesity remedy for diabetes.

For obese patients with type 2 diabetes, surgery may be the best bet.

PURLs: offer this contraceptive to breastfeeding new moms.

Early insertion of the etonogestrel implant does not affect lactogenesis, and fosters contraceptive compliance.

PURLs: statins for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver?

Although physicians often avoid prescribing statins for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver, their use has been found to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality- and to lower liver enzymes.

Screen teens for depression--it's quicker than you think.

A 2-question tool can achieve reasonably accurate results, and takes minimal time or training.

Treating UTIs in reproductive-age women-proceed with caution.

A new study suggesting that nitrofurantoin and sulfonamides are teratogenic highlights the need for a risk-benefit analysis when your patient is a woman of reproductive age.

Saline irrigation spells relief for sinusitis sufferers.

Encourage patients with chronic rhinosinusitis to try this simple approach

Does ultrasound training boost Year 1 medical student competence and confidence when learning abdominal examination?

Objectives: Learning to perform physical examination of the abdomen is a challenge for medical students. Medical educators need to find engaging, effective tools to help students acquire competence and confidence in abdominal examination techniques. This study evaluates the added value of ultrasound training when Year 1 medical students learn abdominal examination.

Vaginitis: case reports and brief review.

Vaginitis is the most frequently gynecologic diagnosis encountered by physicians who provide primary care to women. Accurate diagnosis can be elusive, complicating treatment. Most experts believe that up to 90% of vaginitis cases are secondary to bacterial vaginosis, vulvo-vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis.