Medical Students' Views on Family Medicine in Japan: Insights from an International Comparison

Promoting family medicine (FM) among medical students is essential for strengthening future primary care systems. This study examines Japanese medical students' perspectives on FM and compares them with findings from an identical study conducted in China to identify effective strategies for promoting FM.

A cross-sectional, self-administered, online survey was conducted from November 2020 to February 2021, involving 438 medical students across 28 medical schools in Japan. The survey, modeled after an identical study in China, assessed career decision factors, perceptions of FM careers and lifestyles, and attitudes toward FM, using a 5-point Likert scale.

Of the 363 respondents who indicated a preferred specialty, 19.8% selected FM, making it the second most popular choice. Japanese medical students valued social commitment, manageable work hours, and career stability but perceived FM as less prestigious compared to medical students in China. Both groups recognized the importance of FM in rural health care and the role of government support. However, Japanese medical students were less optimistic about FM careers offering good income and work-life balance.

While FM is relatively popular among medical students in Japan, challenges such as perceptions of low prestige and poor work-life balance remain. Addressing these issues might enhance interest in FM. Study limitations include response bias, cultural differences affecting generalizability, and differences in timing of the survey and participant grade levels between studies. Future research should address these limitations and further explore cultural influences on medical students' career decisions.