The study aims at measuring doctors' performance while giving therapeutic instructions and testing the effectiveness of an educational technique for affective objectives. For this purpose doctors' performance was analysed into nine components. Twenty-five trainees in internal medicine were observed and rated regarding the nine components, while instructing 40 patients with a chronic disease. Both doctors and patients were then questioned regarding the verbal components of the doctors' performance and the answers were compared to assess the degree of concordance. One to 3 months later the patients were interviewed to assess whether they complied with the instructions or not. Eighteen months later a 4-hour seminar on affective objectives was held, involving listening and small-group discussion on tape-recorded doctor-patient consultations. After completion of the seminar, 25 doctors instructed 39 patients and were assessed as above. The findings suggest that the doctors' performance regarding the nine components did not predict patient compliance. However, sufficient doctor-patient concordance regarding the verbal components of the behaviour significantly predicted patient compliance. Following the seminar, significant improvement was noted in doctors' performance, in doctor-patient communication and in patient compliance. It is concluded that observing the doctors' behaviour independently of the patient does not predict patients' compliance; the analysis of the total doctors' behaviour into components is valid in predicting patient compliance if it is used in order to assess doctor-patient communication; and a programme based on audiotape-assisted education is both simple and effective in improving the trainees' behaviour and communication skills.

Detachable balloon devices were applied in the occlusion of experimental ASDs in 20 piglets. The detachable balloons were made from Latex; the occluder balloon was placed on the left atrial side and required a floppy disk and counter-occluder(s) support from the right atrial side (17 experiments), or a second detachable balloon from the right side (3 experiments). Full occlusion was noticed in all cases. There was one device embolization in the descending aorta (device with a regular floppy disk and no counter-occluder). The device was covered by tissue in 3 to 4 weeks with the balloon flat on the septum in approximately 2 months; it required minimal rim and no wires in the left atrium. The double balloon model was wireless. The balloon detachable device was found effective and safe in the occlusion of experimental ASDs in piglets. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 51:529 -534, 2000.

The IRP was effective and safe in the animal model of an ASD. There was evidence of bio-absorption of the complete device over time, without adverse reaction to latex. Clinical application is justified.

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