MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH - TRAINING RESIDENTS IN CLINICAL PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

In view of the current growing interest in prevention as an integral p art of health care, it is timely to consider clinical preventive medic ine (CPM) training approaches that best prepare physicians to deliver appropriate and effective preventive services. During CPM training, sk ills residents most need to acquire include methods of counseling on h ealth promotion and techniques for advising patients on reducing healt h risks by changing disease-promoting behavior. University of Arizona residents in the General Preventive Medicine program receive this trai ning focus at Canyon Ranch, a Tucson health resort and university trai ning site. This training is an important component of the CPM area of emphasis in the residency program. Training emphasizes risk reduction and health promotion with a large volume of patients whose aim is to e ffect lifestyle changes. Emphasis is placed on acquiring skills in cli nical prevention. Counseling and patient education are the primary foc i. Evaluation data indicate that residents' perception of the rotation 's benefit to their education is high, and interest in considering pra ctice in a similar setting is reinforced as a result of the experience . Medical educators in preventive medicine and primary care need to tu rn their attention to finding appropriate training sites with suitable role models to teach counseling and patient education skills.