Educational Effects of a Standardized Program for Community-based Clinical Clerkships

Abstract

Education in community medicine has become increasingly important. At Jichi Medical School, community-based clinicalclerkships began in 1998. This study examined the effects of a standardized program for medical facilities and clerkshipcontents introduced in 2001. A self-administered visual analogue scale questionnaire was given to 308 fifth-yearmedical students to examine their opinions about this program, community medicine, and the future. Results from beforeand after the introduction of the standardized program were compared. After the program had been introduced, significantlymore students agreed that the clerkship program was “meaningful” and should be continued. Furthermore, significantly more students agreed that “physicians enjoy working in the community, ” “talking with people, patients, and public officials is not difficult, ” and “ I will become a general physician or a specialist in the future.” These resultsshow that the standardized program is effective for education in community medicine.