Department of Public Health, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Tohoku J Exp Med. 2013 Feb;229(2):129-36. doi: 10.1620/tjem.229.129.
The number of physicians engaged in basic sciences and teaching is sharply decreasing in Japan. To alleviate this shortage, central government has increased the quota of medical students entering the field. This study investigated medical students' interest in basic sciences in efforts to recruit talent. A questionnaire distributed to 501 medical students in years 2 to 6 of Juntendo University School of Medicine inquired about sex, grade, interest in basic sciences, interest in research, career path as a basic science physician, faculties' efforts to encourage students to conduct research, increases in the number of lectures, and practical training sessions on research. Associations between interest in basic sciences and other variables were examined using χ(2) tests. From among the 269 medical students (171 female) who returned the questionnaire (response rate 53.7%), 24.5% of respondents were interested in basic sciences and half of them considered basic sciences as their future career. Obstacles to this career were their original aim to become a clinician and concerns about salary. Medical students who were likely to be interested in basic sciences were fifth- and sixth-year students, were interested in research, considered basic sciences as their future career, considered faculties were making efforts to encourage medical students to conduct research, and wanted more research-related lectures. Improving physicians' salaries in basic sciences is important for securing talent. Moreover, offering continuous opportunities for medical students to experience research and encouraging advanced-year students during and after bedside learning to engage in basic sciences are important for recruiting talent.
在日本，从事基础科学和教学工作的医生人数正在急剧减少。为了缓解这种短缺，中央政府增加了进入该领域的医学生名额。本研究调查了医学生对基础科学的兴趣，以招募人才。向顺天堂大学医学院 2 至 6 年级的 501 名医学生分发了一份问卷，询问他们的性别、年级、对基础科学的兴趣、对研究的兴趣、成为基础科学医生的职业道路、教师鼓励学生进行研究的努力、讲座数量的增加以及研究实践培训课程。使用 χ(2)检验检查对基础科学的兴趣与其他变量之间的关联。在 269 名返回问卷的医学生（女 171 名）中（应答率为 53.7%），24.5%的受访者对基础科学感兴趣，其中一半人认为基础科学是他们未来的职业。从事这一职业的障碍是他们最初的目标是成为一名临床医生，以及对工资的担忧。可能对基础科学感兴趣的医学生是五年级和六年级的学生，对研究感兴趣，认为基础科学是他们未来的职业，认为教师正在努力鼓励医学生进行研究，并希望有更多与研究相关的讲座。提高基础科学医生的工资对于确保人才至关重要。此外，为医学生提供持续的机会体验研究，并鼓励高年级学生在床边学习期间和之后从事基础科学，对于招募人才也很重要。
