[The ideal curriculum for undergraduate clinical practice training in clinical laboratory medical education]

A model core curriculum for medical education is proposed to serve as an essential basis of material to be mastered. The fundamental laboratory techniques specified by this curriculum are the following five items. 1. Ability to appropriately record a 12-lead EKG. 2. Ability to perform urinalysis. 3. Ability to prepare and examine blood smear samples. 4. Ability to select and preserve microbiological samples for analysis, and to perform Gram staining analysis. 5. Ability to perform and evaluate pregnancy test. However, many other laboratory skill items are permitted in the model curriculum, as emphasized by the individual university. Therefore, reforms require appropriate changes in the educational programs for laboratory practice on the undergraduate level. In the Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, all students must study compulsory fundamental laboratory technique in the first semester of the 5th year and, in addition, 6th graders in the last two months may choose an advanced clinical training course including genetic examinations. An important feature of our clinical training program is to introduce problem-based learning(PBL) tutorial education, which utilizes reversed CPC(R-CPC). An additional elective curriculum in clinical laboratory practice will be required, providing unique training programs based on student needs, the educational principles of each university and the specialties of the instructors.