Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges
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To examine the pool of applicants to U.S. medical schools from 1974--1999 for changes in size and demographics and to identify factors that may be associated with such changes. ⋯ Changes in the proportions of women and Asian/Pacific Islander applicants were the driving force in the expansion of the applicant pool between 1974 and 1999.
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To measure changes in medical students' attitudes toward chronically ill patients, and to identify experiences, specifically during clerkships, that contributed to students' attitudes. ⋯ Students begin medical school with positive attitudes toward caring for chronically ill patients, but this perception depreciates with clinical experience, which may affect specialty decisions. Contributing factors may include adequate role modeling by residents and attendings and a perceived discrepancy in the quality of care patients receive.