In 2004 a program of community health and medicine was included in the national residency system. However, the contents and achievements of this program have not been adequately studied. We surveyed residents, program directors, and collaborating facilities for clinical training in community medicine in the Tohoku–Hokuriku region of Japan about the contents, practices, training period, curriculum development, and other aspects of the program.
1)We conducted a survey of 230 residents who had completed the program, 82 program managers, and 101 collaborating facilities.
2)The survey consisted of surveys of residents (survey 1), of program directors (survey 2), and of collaborating facilities (survey 3) and asked about the programs' consistency with the training objectives of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and satisfaction with community medicine.
3)Approximately 70% of residents, program managers, and collaborating facilities believed the training period for community medicine is appropriate.
4)Furthermore, 69.1% of residents, 65.5% of program directors, and 85.2% of facilities believed that the community medicine program in the national system was important or very important.
5)Training programs should be enhanced so that residents "understand and practice health care in outlying and rural areas" and to increase active involvement of program directors.