Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2016 November, 240(3)
Improving the Quality of Postgraduate Education in Traditional Japanese Kampo Medicine for Junior Residents: An Exploratory Survey Conducted in Five Institutions in the Tohoku Area
SHIN TAKAYAMA,1,2,3 SEIICHI KOBAYASHI,4 SOICHIRO KANEKO,1,2 MASAO TABATA,5 SHINYA SATO,6 KEIICHI ISHIKAWA,7 SAYA SUZUKI,8 RYUTARO ARITA,1,2 NATSUMI SAITO,1,2 TETSUHARU KAMIYA,1,2,3 HITOSHI NISHIKAWA,2 YUKA IKENO,2 JUNICHI TANAKA,1 MINORU OHSAWA,1,2,3,9 AKIKO KIKUCHI,1,2,3 TAKEHIRO NUMATA,1,2,3 HITOSHI KURODA,1 MICHIAKI ABE,1 SATORU ISHIBASHI,4 NOBUO YAEGASHI9 and TADASHI ISHII1,2,3
1Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
2Department of Kampo Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
3Department of Kampo and Integrative medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
4Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan
5Graduate Medical Education Center, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
6General Medical Education Center, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Yamagata, Japan
7Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamagata, Yamagata, Japan
8Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, Aomori, Aomori, Japan
9Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine has been widely applied in general medicine in Japan. In 2001, the model core curriculum for Japanese medical education was revised to include Kampo medicine. Since 2007, all 80 Japanese medical schools have incorporated it within their programs. However, postgraduate training or instruction of Kampo medicine has not been recognized as a goal for the clinical training of junior residents by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; little is known about postgraduate Kampo medicine education. This exploratory study investigated attitudes about Kampo medicine among junior residents in Japanese postgraduate training programs. A questionnaire survey was administered to junior residents at five institutions in the Tohoku area of Japan. Questions evaluated residents' experiences of prescribing Kampo medicines and their expectations for postgraduate Kampo education and training. As a result, 121 residents responded (response rate = 74%). About 96% of participants had previously received Kampo medicine education at their pre-graduate medical schools and 64% had prescribed Kampo medications. Specifically, daikenchuto was prescribed to prevent ileus and constipation after abdominal surgery and yokukansan was prescribed to treat delirium in the elderly. Residents received on-the-job instruction by attending doctors. Over 70% of participants indicated that there was a need for postgraduate Kampo medicine education opportunities and expected lectures and instruction on how to use it to treat common diseases. In conclusion, we have revealed that junior residents require Kampo medicine education in Japanese postgraduate training programs. The programs for comprehensive pre-graduate and postgraduate Kampo education are expected.
keywords —— Japan; Kampo medicine; postgraduate education; survey; traditional medicine
© 2016 Tohoku University Medical Press
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2016, 240, 235-242
Correspondence: Shin Takayama, Department of Kampo Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan.
e-mail: takayama@med.tohoku.ac.jp