[Clinical clerkship in neurology]

In this article, overview of clinical clerkships in USA was briefly shown and the results of a national survey of neurology departments in Japan were reported. Seventy-four (85%) of 87 departments responded for the questionnaire that focused on clinical clerkship. Bed side learning (BSL) in neurology was required for all medical students in 85% of departments, whereas it was elective in the remaining 15%. BSL was carried out in a manner of so called clinical clerkship in at least 86% of departments, but the length of rotation is variable; students were required 1-2 weeks rotation in 74.2% and 3-5 weeks rotation in 17.5% of departments. And BSL was allocated in 5th year students or in 5th and 6th year students in 88.8% of departments. Students performed the medical interview and the physical examination in all departments, and they challenged the basic or some advanced procedures in 40% of departments. Also they wrote up the medical record under the monitoring of supervising physician in at least 55.4% of departments. From these data, BSL in neurology departments in Japan seemed to be less effective than clerkships in USA. Curricular revision might be considered to give students the fundamental clinical competencies.