Oral Iron and the Hemoccult Test: A Controversy on the Teaching Wards

Mark J. Kulbaski, Susan Dorr Goold, Marc A. Tecce, Richard E. Friedenheim, Jeffrey D. Palarski, Frederick L. Brancati

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

To the Editor: Teaching rounds have been criticized for encouraging the passive acquisition of facts in place of analysis and inquiry.1,2 The teaching of an approach to scientific inquiry may be improved by prompting the ward team to investigate a clinical problem actively on its own ward. We report the investigation of a clinical controversy that was performed by a single medical-ward team during a month-long rotation: Does oral iron therapy cause a positive guaiac test for occult blood in stool (Hemoccult)? This debate was sparked by a case discussion early in the month. A poll of the team members…

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1500
Number of pages1
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume320
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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