Abstract
Objectives
A Womans University College of Medicine faces curriculum reform in 2020. To determine what reforms are needed in the premedical curriculum, a needs assessment was conducted.
Methods
This study utilizes qualitative study method. A focus group interview was conducted with four students who completed premedical courses from November to December 2018. Interviews were conducted in two groups by grade level, and each interview was recorded. After transcribing the recorded contents, four researchers analyzed the data using conventional content analysis.
Results
Students chose A Womans University College of Medicine considering their future careers as female medical professionals and other considerations such as scholarships. The students expected diverse experiences, exchanges with students in different departments, and fusion of medicine with other fields during their premedical years. Overall, these expectations were met during the course, but individual needs for customized education, such as liberal arts, were unmet. In general, students' attitudes toward premedical courses were very motivated and they actively used resources provided by the university.
Conclusion
Qualitative research can provide a better understanding of quantitative data, such as a student survey performed to prepare for curriculum reform. Based on this understanding, the curriculum will be reformed to reflect the educational needs of students, to motivate students and to provide satisfactory education.
References
1. Kellaghan T, Stufflebeam DL, Wingate LA. Introduction. In : Kellaghan T, Stufflebeam , editors. International handbook of educational evaluation. 1st ed. Dordrecht: Springer;2003. p. 1–6.
2. Goldie J. AMEE Education Guide no. 29: evaluating educational programmes. Med Teach. 2006; 28:210–224.
3. Stufflebeam DL . Introduction to needs assessment. In : Stufflebeam DL, McCormick CH, Brinkerhoff RO, Nelson CO, editors. Conducting educational needs assessments: evaluation in education and human services. Boston: Springer;1985. p. 1–22.
4. Lee SK, Chung MH, Yang EB. Perception on curriculum reformation and curriculum evaluation of medical school. Korean Med Educ Rev. 2007; 9:1–12.
5. Yoo DM, Kang WS. Introduction of premedical curriculum at the college of medicine, The Catholic University of Korea. Korean Med Educ Rev. 2017; 19:129–133.
6. Yoon HB, Lee SH, Hwang J. Premedical curriculum in Seoul National University College of Medicine. Korean Med Educ Rev. 2017; 19:134–137.
7. Yoon YS, Yoon BY, Jung DU, Lee JT, Ju H. Development of premedical curriculum in Inje University's College of Medicine. Korean Med Educ Rev. 2017; 19:145–148.
8. Chung EK. Premedical curriculum at Chonnam National University Medical School. Korean Med Educ Rev. 2017; 19:149–151.
9. Suh GW. The meaning of doing qualitative research. Korean J Educ Res. 2008; 46:133–161.
10. Lapan SD, Quartaroli MT, Riemer FJ. Part one: a qualitative frame of mind. In : Lapan SD, Quartaroli MT, Riemer FJ, editors. Qualitative research: an introduction to methods and designs. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons;2011. p. 3–106.
11. Seo YH, Kweon MR, Kim EJ. A qualitative study on parent participation in early childhood educational institutes. Korean J Early Child Educ. 2006; 26:33–57.
12. Kim UC. A qualitative study for the improvement of the curriculum of Master of Divinity (M. Div.) program: centering on the experience of students at H University. J Christ Educ Korea. 2018; 55:89–130.
13. Choi HY. A study for the experience of pre-service teacher education and the difficulties on adaptation process-based on focus interviewing of beginning teachers. Inst Humanit Soc Sci. 2013; 14:349–385.
14. Kim YM, Huh HY, Lee CH, Lee SY, Kim KS. A study on participants' perception change of Engineering technology education program. J Korean Pract Arts Educ. 2013; 19:271–295.
15. Cuesta-Briand B, Auret K, Johnson P, Playford D. ‘A world of difference’: a qualitative study of medical students' views on professionalism and the ‘good doctor’. BMC Med Educ. 2014; 14:77.
16. Wachtler C, Lundin S, Troein M. Humanities for medical students? A qualitative study of a medical humanities curriculum in a medical school program. BMC Med Educ. 2006; 6:16.
17. Choi SH, Yoon TH. The qualitative research about students' experience of students internship: a case from the Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine. Korean Med Educ Rev. 2014; 16:99–107.
18. Kim YC. In-depth interview. In : Kim YC, editor. Qualitative research methodology 1: bricoleur. 3rd ed. Seoul: Academipress;2016. p. 332–349.
19. Tausch AP, Menold N. Methodological aspects of focus groups in health research: results of qualitative interviews with focus group moderators. Glob Qual Nurs Res. 2016; 3:2333393616630466.
20. Hsieh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res. 2005; 15:1277–1288.
21. Yeh BI. How can we improve premedical education in Korea? Korean Med Educ Rev. 2017; 19:121–128.
22. Yang YE, Bae IH. A study on the adaptation process of North Korean immigrant youth discontinuing formal education. Korean J Soc Welf Stud. 2010; 41:189–224.