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Biomedical subjects

W K Davis

Publications and source records attributed to W K Davis.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Continuing education in pulmonary disease for primary-care physicians.

A continuing medical education program was implemented and evaluated in 16 community hospitals. It was targeted at primary-care physicians and used physicians identified by their peers as being educationally influential for the dissemination of information. Self-study materials were used, followed by an intensive 2-wk preceptorship that resulted in a significant increase in physician knowledge. Inpatient chart audits identified a series of changes in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the intervention hospitals that were not noted in the control hospitals. These included the increased use of intravenously administered fluids, loading doses of intravenously administered bronchodilators, aerosolized and single agent bronchodilators, and respiratory therapy services. Continuing medical education, delivered through community-based educationally influential physicians, is an effective way of changing physician behavior in small communities with no prior ongoing educational programs. This approach should improve patient care and may reduce the need for participation of academic faculty in traditional continuing education programs.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗
PubMed1982

Factors influencing decisions to enter careers in clinical investigation.

Factors associated with decisions to enter careers in clinical research were studied based on surveys completed by successful clinical investigators. Three aspects of career decision-making were explored: the timing of the decision to enter a research career, the relationship between research success and the timing of the decision, and the impact of two disincentives to enter research careers (the payback provisions of the national research service awards and the abolition of the physician draft that decreased the attractiveness of research training as an alternative). Survey results document the importance of medical school experiences in career decisions. Further, the correlation between the time of career decision and research success supports arguments for early research experiences upon which decisions can be made. Disincentives for entering a research career were not seen as barriers that would have prevented the majority of respondents from entering a research career. The results of the study led to a strong recommendation that research opportunities for medical students be enhanced as one mechanism for positively influencing decisions in favor of research careers.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1982

A multisite comparison of student activities in the surgery clerkship.

The purpose of this study was to develop a method that would provide baseline data for the ongoing assessment of surgical clerkships at The University of Michigan Medical School. Of specific concern was the comparability of clerkship experiences among five different sites and the degree of variability in student experiences as the academic year progressed. Students (n = 168) in the required surgery clerkship at five affiliated sites completed a standardized daily log of the time spent on seven patient care activities and five formally structured educational activities for 1 week during each of five rotations. Analysis educational activities for 1 week during each five rotations. Analysis of variance and the Scheffe method for multiple comparisons were used to determine differences attributable to clerkship site and time of academic year. The results of the study revealed significant site-, rotation-, and activity-specific variations in the surgery clerkship experiences. However, the students at each of the five sites distributed their time almost equally between patient care and formal educational activities. The study has provided a model for assessing variability and change in the surgery clerkship program both within individual sites and across an entire affiliated hospital system. The instruments and methods are presented for adoption by other institutions with similar goals.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1982

Resident selection: applicant selection criteria compared with performance.

One hundred three surgical house officers, 41 in general surgery and 62 in specialty surgery, entered the residency program from 1975 through 1979. Their application data, including the National Board of Medical Examiners test part I scores, preclinical course honors, clinical course honors, surgical clerkship honors, election to Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), published research, medical school grading system, medical school rating, and National Resident Matching Program rank, were tabulated. Each house officer's performance was assessed by monthly faculty evaluation and by annual standard American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) score through the second year of the program. The application data were compared with the performance data to determine significant indicators of success. Factor analysis computed on the monthly evaluation forms identified a knowledge factor and an interpersonal skills factor. Statistical analyses were used to study the relationships among the independent (preentry) variables and the knowledge, interpersonal skills, and ABSITE postentry variables. The results were significant (P less than 0.05) for medical school honors, election to AOA, and medical school grading system. No significance was found for the remaining preentry variables. The knowledge and interpersonal skill evaluation scores for the house officer I and II years were significantly correlated. Although the postentry assessment of knowledge correlated with certain applicant data, the assessment of interpersonal factors was not statistically related.

Educational Measurement↗
PubMed1980

Teaching of neuroanatomy by means of self-instructional laboratory stations.

Neuroanatomical laboratory material was presented to first-year medical students in a series of six self-instructional stations. Each station was designed to emphasize one major objective and to be completed without reference to any other station. Upon completion of a station the students filled out a response questionnaire. Five weeks later, short examinations testing both station content and application of the neuroanatomical principles were administered to volunteers from the class. Student response to this teaching format was highly favourable for all areas questioned. Results of the tests indicated a mastery of station material as defined by the objectives and an ability to use the material in applied problems. The laboratory station concept is economical of both student and instructor time and allows flexibility in the design of neuroanatomical laboratory experiences.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Systematic evaluation and increased structure in a radiology elective.

Diagnostic radiology is expanding, playing an increasingly central role in patient care, which heightens the importance of radiology teaching in undergraduate medical education. This study examined the impact of increased structure and systematic evaluation on student performance in a radiology elective. The evaluation protocol included premultiple and postmultiple choice examinations (70 questions each), a film interpretation quiz (ten films, 20 questions), faculty assessment of a student oral case presentation, and student evaluations of the elective experience. The relationships among the evaluation techniques, as well as differences in class level and course ratings were also examined. Two different treatment groups were studied. Group 1 was given general objectives and information regarding availability of recommended resources, including self-learning materials for the elective, didactic seminars, and viewbox exposure. Group 2 was given specific written instructional objectives, a structured schedule for viewing the self-learning materials, and the same seminars and viewbox exposure. The statistically significant higher performance of the structured group suggests that medical students achieve the objectives of an elective better when learning activities are well defined, structured, and systematically evaluated. In addition, those students receiving the structured experience rated the radiology elective more favorably.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gender differences in diabetes attitudes and adherence.

This study focused on three questions: Is there a difference in men's and women's diabetes attitudes? Do health professionals give different recommendations to men and women? Is there a difference between men and women in care adherence? A total of 1201 patients with diabetes were surveyed; 65% of these patients were women. Differences in diabetes attitudes (three of seven attitudes) were most evident between men and women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). No differences were found in the attitudes of men and women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) using insulin, and only one attitude was different for patients with NIDDM not using insulin. Few differences were observed in the recommendations given by health professionals to men and women. Gender differences in adherence to the components of self-care also were minimal. These findings may indicate that there are many similarities in the reactions of men and women who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differences in the impact of dietary restrictions on African Americans and Caucasians with NIDDM.

African-American and Caucasian patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were surveyed to determine differences in self-reported dietary adherence. The relationship between dietary adherence and other psychosocial factors also was explored. The Diabetes Care Profile, an instrument designed to assess psychosocial factors related to diabetes, was completed by 178 patients. Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between dietary adherence and 15 other scales in this instrument. Regression analyses revealed that selected scales were better at predicting dietary adherence for African Americans than for Caucasians. Self-care adherence was the most significant predictor of dietary adherence for African Americans while support was the most significant predictor for Caucasians. These findings suggest that cultural and social functions of food and diet should be examined and incorporated in the development of appropriate meal plans and educational interventions.

Black or African American↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Community diabetes care in the 1980s.

This is a study of diabetes care and care outcomes for patients under the active care of private physicians. Randomly selected communities, physicians, and patients in Michigan were the subjects of this study. Data on the care practices of physicians and patients and care outcomes were collected from 1980 to 1981 and again in 1985 from eight communities, 61 physicians, and 261 patients. We found that the use of multiple injections of insulin and self-monitoring of blood glucose increased significantly, whereas hospitalizations for diabetes control decreased. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin values for this cohort of patients remained unchanged. The study results suggest that, for patients under the active care of community physicians, modern methods of diabetes care are being implemented, but the results of improved care do not show an impact on blood glucose control as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin values. The study was not designed to establish causation for the decrease in hospitalizations for these patients, but the data suggest that decreases may be more a function of changes in health-care policies rather than changes in patient health.

Adult↗