Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the weight bias internalization scale.

OBJECTIVE: The weight bias internalization scale (WBIS) is widely used in several languages. However, there is no Japanese version of the WBIS. The purpose of this study is to develop a Japanese version of the WBIS and to verify its reliability and validity. We translated the original version of the WBIS and had approval from the scale developer. Adults who perceived themselves to be obese completed online baseline survey (N = 285) and two-week follow-up survey (N = 100). We used the Japanese WBIS and scales for obesity-related quality of life, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and depression. We calculated Cronbach's alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) to assess reliability of the WBIS and conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and correlation analysis to assess its validity. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was 0.91 at baseline and 0.92 at follow-up, and the ICC was 0.87. CFA showed that a one-factor model demonstrated an acceptable fit (χ2 (44) = 158.6, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.096, SRMR = 0.051), similar to the original version. As we had hypothesized, overall, the Japanese version of the WBIS was significantly correlated with obesity-related quality of life, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and depression. These results confirmed its adequate reliability and validity.

Comparison of Subjective/Objective Evaluation of Medical Students at Social Medicine Training between Different Grades in the Same Academic Year: Focus on Student Readiness / 医学教育

Background: The aims of the present study were to reveal the impact of the introduction of social medicine training one year earlier in a new university curriculum on subjective/objective evaluation of medical students, and to discuss the readiness of said students. Methods: In this natural experiment study, subjects comprised 73 third- (n = 31) and fourth-grade (n = 42) medical students who participated in social medicine training, namely “Family Health Practice Tutorial,” in 2017. The data consisted of student’s self-assessment and assessment from clients. The associations between these assessments and student grade were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and ordinal logistic regression. Results: The score for “Language” in the assessment from the clients was significantly lower in the third-grade students than in the fourth-grade students after adjustment for gender (odds ratio = 0.147; 95% confidence interval = [0.027, 0.797]). Discussion: Insufficient readiness for language to residents in the community was found in third-grade medical students. Advanced communication training prior to practice for third-grade students may contribute to sustainable social medicine training in the community.

Social Medicine Training in Fukushima Medical University "Family Health Practice Tutorial" - Present State and Tasks / 医学教育

The Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine in Fukushima Medical University has carried out "Family Health Practice Tutorial" as part of social medicine training for undergraduate medical students. In this training, pairs of students, visited the same ordinary homes three times, and studied the Family Health Practices. Further learning was mainly offered in the tutorial, which is regarded as Problem-Based Learning. The visited family evaluated the students and gave feedback to them via their teachers. We herein present the report on the present state, evaluation method and tasks of the training. We also discuss the meaning of this training in medical education as well as future direction.