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Biomedical subjects

R W Swanson

Publications and source records attributed to R W Swanson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Primum non nocere.

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Adenocarcinoma

Improving presentation skills of family medicine residents: a randomized controlled study.

A randomized controlled time series design was used to evaluate the influence of an educational intervention designed to improve the presentation skills of family medicine residents. Each resident gave three presentations, with the educational intervention occurring between the first and second presentations in the experimental group, and between the second and third presentations in the control group. The presentations were evaluated using a standardized format. The experimental group, in contrast to the control group, showed significant improvement in scores for all major criteria after receiving the educational intervention between presentations 1 and 2. This improvement continued with repetition between presentations 2 and 3. After receiving the educational intervention between presentations 2 and 3, the control group also demonstrated significant improvement in several key areas. We conclude that an educational intervention can improve the presentation skills of family medicine residents. Education coupled with repeated opportunities for presentation will produce a greater improvement in resident performance than repeated presentations alone.

Clinical Competence

The effects of continuing medical education on family doctor performance in office practice: a randomized control study.

A randomized controlled study was conducted to determine if specifically designed continuing medical education in the fields of cardiovascular and cancer medicine could change doctor office behaviour significantly. Thirty-one volunteer family doctors from 25 offices participated. Six (three cardiovascular and three cancer) learning objectives were defined. Two educational formats were selected as the independent variables: (1) group interaction opportunities (face-to-face and teleconference); and (2) concisely written newsletters. Chart measures of doctor performance prior to and 6 and 12 months following education served as the dependent variables. The family doctors receiving education were found to perform the recommended behaviours significantly more than those who did not receive the education (P less than 0.05) at 6 months post-education. This difference was maintained at the 12-month post-educational period for one of the educational programmes offered. A carefully planned programme of continuing medical education will result in favourable changes in the office practice of volunteer doctors. These changes can persist for as long as 12 months. Adherence to several essential learning principles is required.

Cardiology

Advanced cardiac life support: a survey of interprofessional attitudes.

A questionnaire survey was conducted of physicians and nurses who had participated in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)-Provider courses during a 5-year period. Both physicians and nurses believed that a conjoint physician-nurse ACLS-Provider course was a good learning experience and an excellent exercise in interprofessional communication. On the basis of these data, we suggest that a conjoint ACLS-Provider course be maintained, rather than establishing different modules for different professions.

Attitude of Health Personnel

Battered wife syndrome.

Battered wife syndrome is a symptom complex of physical and psychologic abuse of a woman by her husband. Although it may occur in up to 10% of Canadian women, it largely goes unrecognized. Such women often present with vague somatic complaints, such as headache, insomnia and abdominal pain. Thus, the diagnosis can usually only be made by asking nonthreatening open-ended questions. Most women remain with their husbands because they are afraid of them. Hence, successful treatment usually depends on the woman's leaving her husband and obtaining help in the development of a new self-concept.

Alcoholism

Pheochromocytoma: an unusual presentation and sequela.

A 40-year-old male presenting with exercise-induced headaches was found to have a pheochromocytoma which was subsequently removed. His blood pressure was never recorded as elevated. He went on to develop recurrence of asthma, which had been absent for at least 20 years, 48 h postoperatively. This is the first case of pheochromocytoma manifesting as exercise-induced headache in the absence of detectable hypertension.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms