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Impact of Career Design Simulation on Japanese Medical Students: An Educational Study
Nobuyasu Komasawa1, Masanao Yokohira2
1Community Medicine Education Promotion Office, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, JPN.
Background:
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of career design simulation on the attitude of Japanese medical students toward doctoral life planning, including qualification acquisition.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted a career-design simulation trial with fourth-year medical students. The three-hour course comprised lectures on career design and individual career design, including an ideal plan and a modified plan according to unexpected work and life events, as well as group discussions. Nine questions regarding career design attitude (awareness, significance, or intention to acquire a doctoral degree or medical specialty, work-life balance, and flexibility) were answered in both pre- and post-career design simulation training.
Results:
The response rate was 67.5% (79/117). Attitudes toward career design significantly improved after the career design simulation, regardless of the duration after graduation (p < 0.001, each). Attitudes toward the significance of doctorate degrees significantly improved after participation (p = 0.007), while attitudes toward medical specialties did not (p = 0.128). In contrast, confidence in obtaining a medical specialty and doctoral degree was improved by career design simulations (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003, respectively).
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that career design simulations can be an effective educational method for developing active learning, motivation for career image, and lifelong education.
