Professionalism・Behavioral Science

In order to become a good medical professional, one should naturally acquire medical knowledge and clinical skills and techniques. However, it is also necessary to develop a respect for humanity, accountability, and professional ethics. Okayama University Medical School offers courses on professionalism and behavioral science consistently from the 1st year to the 5th year.

Class overview

【ProfessionalismⅠ】

As students standing at the entrance to the path of their medical studies, first year students are encouraged to consider what “life” is on their own and through group discussions that facilitate peer learning. This course also gives students the chance to hear lectures directly from people who have experience as patients so that they can learn to consider medical care from a patient’s perspective.

【Behavioral ScienceⅠ】

Students will learn to habitually question their own behavior (reflect), analyze their own behavior and the behavior of others, and seek solutions for improved behavior (behavior change). Additionally, students will develop a deeper understanding of other people （peers, teachers, people they interact with in workplace training）and organizations （grade, university, society, etc.）through small group discussions (SGDs), general presentations, and workplace training.

【ProfessionalismⅡ】

Students will learn verbal and non-verbal communication techniques and be introduced to care techniques and the humanitude care methodology. In SGDs, students will learn how to approach questions and issues that arise in a clinical setting by performing case simulations of life support scenarios. Through medical interview training, students will experience conducting a medical interview with a simulated patient.

【Behavioral ScienceⅡ】
Through discussions and mini-lectures, students will learn about research ethics that they should be aware of when conducting medical research. Students will also learn about clinical ethics through the stories of hereditary cancer patients.

【Professionalism Ⅲ】

Students will learn about efficient information retrieval practices and evidence-based medicine (EBM), about the role of doctors in society from an administrative perspective, about the career paths of doctors and medical care around the world, and about the basics of clinical reasoning. 

【Behavioral Science Ⅲ】

This course focuses on human psychology. By participating in SGDs, students will be exposed to various values and ways of thinking and learn how to communicate effectively through practice.

【Professionalism Ⅳ】

This course features a workshop on the basics of Narrative Medicine and the knowledge that can be gained from using this approach. Additionally, students will learn about interacting with patients in a clinical setting through lectures and discussions. 

【Behavioral Science Ⅳ】
The main theme of this course is “communication in the medical field”. Students will learn about “behavior changes” and “medical care teams” through roleplay and mini-lectures. Additionally, students will deepen their understanding of multi-disciplinary collaboration and learn about the process of becoming a well-functioning medical team from experienced doctors and medical staff.  

【ProfessionalismⅤ】

In this course, students are encouraged to become better medical professionals as they learn about professionalism by objectively analyzing and reflecting on their own experiences during clinical training and thinking about the attitudes and behaviors of doctors and staff that they encountered (from the perspectives of patients, staff, peers, and their own perspectives as medical students).  

【Behavioral ScienceⅤ】

This course gives students the opportunity to study “unclear medical cases” encountered during clinical training through the lens of cultural anthropology and social anthropology. After starting clinical training, students will learn about the qualities required of a medical professional, about the practice of holistic medical care, and about how to approach discussions about terminal cases, death, and grief. Student will also be given time to deeply reflect on how they can improve themselves as medical professionals.