Review of an experimental program for fundamental education about kampo herbal medicine / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

A model core curriculum proposed by the government in 2001 outlined the core structure for undergraduate medical education, in which a kampo medicine educational program was established to teach holistic medicine. Eighty Japanese medical schools have attempted to implement this program. We presented lectures on kampo herbal medicine as part of practical training in kampo focusing on clinical pharmacology and using a team-based format. This experience-based program aims to promote active learning of kampo herbal medicine among students. 1) After 116 4th-year students at Tokai Medical University had listened to 6 units of general lectures on the basic theory of kampo medicine, they received practical training comprising 3 units of kampo medical practice, acupuncture, and kampo herbal medicines in small groups of approximately 13 students (12 students, 3 groups; 13 students, 4 groups; and 14 students, 2 groups).2)For experience-based learning about kampo herbal medicine, each group was divided into 2 teams of students who practiced and worked on assignments so that they could understand herbal medicine from the viewpoints of both physicians and patients.3) By preparing keishito using Cinnamomi Cortex, whose production areas and quality differ, students learned the fundamental mechanism of kampo medicine through team discussions of their subjective sensory assessment of the herbal medicine keishito and the objective analysis of the main ingredients of Cinnamomi Cortex. 4) Group A (40 students, 6 teams) took the examination 2 days after the practice, and group B (76 students, 12 teams) took the exam before the practice. Group A did not show any correlation between examination results and interest levels in kampo herbal medicine, and all students but 1 correctly answered 60% or less of the questions. Group B showed a positive correlation between interest levels and examination results, and 6 students correctly answered less than 60% of the questions.5)The present practice could be effective in motivating students in kampo medicine.