Population-based Medicine: Moving from a Focus on Individuals to One on Populations / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

1) The following issues were discussed in relation to population-based medicine (PBM) education in Japan a. requirements of physicians under current laws, b. socioeconomic factors and health/illness, c. variations of health among communities, and d. effective and efficient PBM education programs.<BR>2) The author pointed out the following key issues a. responsibilities of physicians to maintain and promote a population's health, b. attention to the association between socioeconomic factors and illness, c. development of research methods to elucidate characteristics of population health, and d. collaboration between undergraduate and postgraduate education.<BR>3) To improve quality of medical care, to meet people's various needs, to prevent disease, and to provide appropriate care services, taking the view point of PBM is considered to be indispensable.<BR>4) Education in population-based medicine is a requirement in a physician's education in Japan. Accumulation of evidence from the view point of PBM and medical education programs to help develop public-health-minded physicians are important.