Journal of general internal medicine
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This perspective is a counterpoint to Dr. Brass' article, Basic biomedical sciences and the future of medical education: implications for internal medicine. The authors review development of the US medical education system as an introduction to a discussion of Dr. ⋯ They believe it is unlikely that the importance of basic sciences will be diminished by contemporary directions in medical education and planned modifications of USMLE. Graduates' diminished interest in internal medicine is unlikely from changes in basic science education. Thoughtful changes in education provide the opportunity to improve understanding of fundamental sciences, the process of scientific inquiry, and translation of that knowledge to clinical practice.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Behind closed doors: physician-patient discussions about colorectal cancer screening.
Despite the availability of multiple effective screening tests for colorectal cancer, screening rates remain suboptimal. The literature documents patient preferences for different test types and recommends a shared decision-making approach for physician-patient colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) discussions, but it is unknown whether such communication about CRCS preferences and options actually occurs in busy primary-care settings. ⋯ If a preference for colonoscopy is widespread among primary-care physicians, the implications for intervention are either to prepare patients for this preference or to train physicians to offer options when recommending screening to patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Perceived quality of care, receipt of preventive care, and usual source of health care among undocumented and other Latinos.
Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States and experience persistent disparities in access to and quality of health care. ⋯ In this national sample, undocumented Latinos were less likely to report receiving blood pressure and cholesterol level checks, less likely to report having received excellent/good quality of care, and more likely to receive no health/health-care information from doctors, even after adjusting for potential confounders. Our study shows that differences in nativity/immigration status should be taken into consideration when we discuss perceived quality of care among Latinos.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Influence of patient race on physician prescribing decisions: a randomized on-line experiment.
Prior research reports black patients have lower medication use for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes. ⋯ Racial differences in outpatient prescribing patterns for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes are likely attributable to factors other than prescribing decisions based on patient race.