title: Characteristics of medical school graduates who underwent problem-based learning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we compared the choice of medical specialty and subspecialty interest among problem-based-learning (PBL) graduates and non-PBL graduates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were mailed to a total of 1398 female doctors who graduated from Tokyo Women's Medical University (TWMU) between 1989 and 2003. The response rate was over 30%, giving 248 respondents who had undergone a PBL curriculum (PBL+) and 220 subjects who had not (PBL-). Current specialty of the graduates were compared between the PBL+ and PBL-, and also compared with the general Japanese female doctors (Control 1 and 2) of similar age groups. Respondents were analysed in terms of their interests in subspecialty medical care or general medical practise, which includes comprehensive medical care, primary care and basic medicine. Internal medicine doctors working in the university hospitals were compared with those working outside the university hospitals. Internal medicine doctors were also compared with specialists in ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dermatology and psychiatry. Subjects were compared by odds ratio (OR) to examine group difference in the field of interest. OR >2.0 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most doctors in all groups chose internal medicine. More PBL+ internal medicine doctors showed interests in comprehensive medical care and primary care; more PBL+ internal medicine doctors working outside university hospitals showed interest in comprehensive medical care and primary care when compared with those who were working in the university hospitals. The PBL- graduates did not show such a characteristic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More PBL+ graduates who chose internal medicine showed interest in holistic medical practices such as primary care and community medicine and more PBL+ specialists showed sustained interest in their respective fields.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Women's Medical University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Sonoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Taiyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suganuma
authors.forename: Yasuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Toshimasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007564:Japan; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data