2016 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 29-33
International standardization of medical education requires Japanese medical schools to restructure their curriculum and to include “Behavioral Science” in them. Two influential documents for Japanese medical education, “the Model Core Curriculum for Medical Education in Japan” and “the Scope of the Japanese National Examination for Medical Doctors” include some key terms regarding behavioral science. However, those are not systematic and the term “behavioral science” could not be found in these documents. The new global standards for medical education, “the Basic Medical Education WFME Global Standards” require medical schools to include “behavioral science” in their curriculum. Definition of behavioral science emphasizes social aspects and determinants of health which is also the key concept of public health. From the view point of public health, it is hoped that the systematic introduction of behavioral science in Japanese medical education strengthens public health minds of doctors which is necessary for community health.
