Traditional & Alternative Medicine

In 2001, traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine was included in the Japanese medical schools’ model core curriculum. Th e original concepts of Kampo medicine for the treatment of various diseases involve the use of history taking and unique physical examinations including abdominal diagnosis. Recently, simulators of abdominal diagnosis (hereaft er referred to as “abdominal simulators”) were developed and have been incorporated in Kampo medicine training. Th is study aimed to assess the infl uence of hands-on training with lectures using abdominal simulators on Kampo medicine education in medical students. Fift y-one medical students (grade; 1st to 6th; mean age, 23.1 years; male: 33; female: 18) underwent training. First, they palpated 7 types of abdominal simulators and answered a test aft er receiving basic lectures on abdominal diagnosis. Th en, they palpated same simulators and answered the test again aft er receiving detailed lectures on abdominal diagnosis. Th e correct answer rates in the tests taken aft er basic and detailed lectures were compared. Th e total correct answer rates for abdominal signs with the simulators signifi cantly increased aft er the detailed lecture (78.2% vs. 94.4%, p<0.001). Th e total correct answer rates for formulae related to the abdominal signs also increased aft er the detailed lecture (21.8% vs. 59.7%, p<0.001). Lectures with abdominal simulator training can promote students’ understanding of Kampo medicine. Lectures using abdominal simulators can promote students’ understanding of abdominal diagnosis. Kampo formulae are selected on the basis of physical examinations; therefore, simulation training will be useful in education of medical students.