Abstract
Purpose: The Education Committee of the Medical Safety Management Council of National University Hospitals conducted a survey of national universities across the country to determine the realities of medical safety education for medical students at national universities in 2018. The results were compared with the results of the survey with those of 2011 and also compered between faculties and departments (medical students, nursing students and dental students).
Methods: Questionnaires were sent to the medical safety management departments of national university hospitals across Japan, and each university was asked to cooperate in the survey.
Results: The questionnaire was sent to 46 universities, and 34 universities responded (73.9% response rate). Class hours and course content varied widely among universities, indicating a lack of standardization among them. Much of the class time was lectures and about 10-30% of the classes in each faculty/department were practical training. There was a difference in the class time and content between the faculties and departments. Overall, a median of seven of the 11 topics (WHO items) in the WHO Patient Safety Curriculum Guide were covered in class, and a median of four of the ten Japan-specific items (Japan items) were covered in class. Less than half of the lessons involved the medical safety management department of the hospital. These results were similar to those of the previous survey in 2011.
Conclusions: The amount and content of medical safety education at national universities varied widely among universities, and this situation has not changed since 2011. The WHO and Japan items are considered to be essential for medical safety education in Japan, but there were some items that were not covered in class. The educational content of each section needed to be fleshed out and clarified, and it was felt that medical safety experts should be involved in the development of the model core curriculum to achieve this.
