Complementary medicine education in Japanese medical schools: a survey

Objectives:To evaluate the present state of complementary medicine (CM) edu cation in Japanese medical schools. Design:This investigation consisted of two studies:(I) a telephone survey to curricular office workers in Septembe r 1998; and (2) a serf-completed questionnaire to representatives of sponso ring departments in July 1999, Settings:All 80 medical schools for Western medicine. Main outcome measures: Presence of a CM course and sponsoring dep artment,Titles of courses and teaching methods, Results:The response rate t o the telephone survey and self-completed questionnaire was 100 and 95%, re spectively. Of 80 medical schools, CM was officially taught in 16 schools ( 20%), Of these 16 schools, there were 19 CM courses and the anesthesia depa rtment sponsored the most courses (six courses),all courses had oriental me dicine titles such as acupuncture and Kampo except for one course, Conclusi on:Twenty per cent of Japanese Medical Schools taught CM with predominantly oriental medicine themes. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.