Developing competencies relating to information science and technology in Japanese undergraduate medical education

In response to the growing expectation and recognized potential for integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into medicine, the Model Core Curriculum for Medical Education in Japan incorporated 'the ability to use information science and technology' as a new competency in its 2022 revision. This study aimed to identify specific learning objectives that medical students should achieve to acquire this competency. The research team developed an initial list of 107 learning objectives through a literature survey. Subsequently, two rounds of expert panel surveys were conducted to refine these objectives. Seventy-four medical education stakeholders participated in the expert panel, including medical and non-medical faculty, medical students, graduate students, and university staff. Through the expert panel surveys, 13 learning objectives were finally established from the initial list, consisting of three categories: 'Ethics and rules for dealing with information science and technology,' 'Principles of information science and technology necessary for medical care and surrounding society,' and 'Application of information science and technology in clinical practice.' Our investigation effectively identified essential components of competencies for integrating ICT into medical education. The identified learning objectives would provide valuable insights for designing curricula for undergraduates in the new era of information and artificial intelligence.