Using a family practice preceptorship to teach clinical epidemiology. 1987

J C Konen
Department of Family Practice, State University of New York, Syracuse.

Because physicians in training can benefit from an epidemiological approach to primary care practice, research, and education, educators are turning their attention to better methods and settings to teach preventive and epidemiological principles while cultivating an attitude for clinical research. This report describes the development of a clinical epidemiological problem studied in the context of a one-week family practice preceptorship. The project was designed to study the possible association between obesity and hypertension and to familiarize students with a common study design. Data from 393 case control pairs produced results of the same magnitude as that documented by formal, carefully controlled research studies. Students participated with dedication and excitement in the clinical application of relevant and practical epidemiologic and biostatistical tools in a clinical setting. Often difficult to comprehend concepts of interaction and confounding were clearly demonstrated using data derived from actual patients encountered during the preceptorship experience.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D011231 Preceptorship Practical experience in medical and health-related services that occurs as part of an educational program wherein the professionally-trained student works outside the academic environment under the SUPERVISION of an established professional in the particular field. Clinical Mentoring,Clinical Supervision,Clinical Practicum,Field Study, Medical,Field Training, Medical,Field Work, Medical,Clinical Mentorings,Clinical Supervisions,Field Studies, Medical,Medical Field Studies,Medical Field Study,Medical Field Training,Medical Field Work,Mentoring, Clinical,Mentorings, Clinical,Practicum, Clinical,Practicums, Clinical,Studies, Medical Field,Study, Medical Field,Supervision, Clinical,Supervisions, Clinical,Training, Medical Field,Work, Medical Field
D003479 Curriculum A course of study offered by an educational institution. Curricula,Short-Term Courses,Course, Short-Term,Courses, Short-Term,Short Term Courses,Short-Term Course
D004813 Epidemiology Field concerned with the determination of causes, incidence, and characteristic behavior of disease outbreaks affecting human populations. It includes the interrelationships of host, agent, and environment as related to the distribution and control of disease. Social Epidemiology,Epidemiologies, Social,Epidemiology, Social,Social Epidemiologies
D005194 Family Practice A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family. Family Practices,Practice, Family,Practices, Family
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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