This study investigated the effects of an educational program in geriatrics on the attitudes of a group of third-year medical students. A survey designed to measure attitudes toward geriatric patient care, aging, and older people was administered to all students before and after their participation in a 25-hour geriatrics education component of a Family Practice Clerkship. Results showed the students' attitudes were significantly improved following the geriatrics training program. Prior training in geriatrics and their specialty preference were also found to have an impact on attitude. The implications of the study for medical education and research are discussed.

Characteristics of future physicians and psychiatrists that are conductive to superior professional competency are possibly comparable to attributes that facilitate the learning of psychotherapy skills. For supervisors and supervisees, this article considers the usefulness of a list of ideal supervisee characteristics developed from a sampling of supervisor responses. Characteristics important in negotiating professional development stages are also discussed.

Under the label of behavioral science, psychological content has become integrated into the didactic and clinical teaching curricula of many medical schools and residency training programs. Psychology faculty frequently face the difficult task of making their material relevant to physicians. Ten suggestions that address the content and process of teaching psychology to medical students, residents, and faculty are discussed.

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This study examines the factors influencing family physicians' patient referrals for psychotherapy. A questionnaire designed from a pilot study of the full-time family practice faculty at Wright State University was mailed to all members (154) of the voluntary family practice faculty at Wright State University with a 63 percent return rate. Results indicated the most important factors in determining whether a patient is referred for psychotherapy include the severity of the problem, the threat of suicide, and the need for specialized treatment. The most important therapist characteristics looked for by a family physician are ability, availability, appreciation of the person as a whole, interaction skills, and experience. The article also discusses the ways in which family physicians find a psychotherapist, the feedback desired by the family physician from a psychotherapist, and type of psychotherapist discipline preferred by the family physician for handling various patient situations.