Medical students exposed to intensive training in interviewing patients, as a means of establishing and maintaining the physician-patient relationship, were compared with students who did not receive such training. Students exposed to the training showed a significant increase in ability to accept a patient for what he is, without a need to evaluate, judge, or criticize. They also demonstrated a significant lowering of anxiety in the interview situation. However, exposure to simple didactic training in the handling of death and dying did not lead to similar anxiety reduction. It is inferred that the absence of opportunity for actual, intensive work with terminal patients was the critical factor.
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