Gerontological education in Japan--geriatric education and training

There are 13 academic geriatric departments among 80 medical schools in Japan as of November 1991. The first independent department was established in 1962 at Tokyo University. The undergraduate education program includes lectures in geriatrics (20 hours/year in 11/12 medical schools), bedside teaching at geriatric ward (6/12 medical schools, 66 hours on average per year). The theme of lectures are diverse and incorporate all the three major fields in gerontology: biology of aging, clinical geriatrics and socio-economical aspects of aging society. The postgraduate geriatric education is carried out mainly at university setting and most of the medical schools (83%) accept graduate students who are trained at independent geriatric ward (92%) as well as at outpatient clinics. In 1989, Japan Geriatrics Society started a new certification system by which 687 MDs have been temporarily certified in geriatrics. The first examination will be given by the society in 1992 and the eligibility to sit in the examination requires three years geriatrics fellowship after certification in medicine or general surgery. The curriculum proposed by the society shares many items of training in common with those found in north American and in Europe. Some points of suggestions and recommendations were presented for future improvement in the education of gerontology in Japan.