The abundant computer-based materials for medical education developed in Europe and North America have found limited use in Japan. To remedy this situation, the usefulness of such educational materials for Japanese students should be clearly presented, because issues of language and cost are involved. For detailed evaluation of educational material, collaboration with the developing institution is necessary. Kochi Medical School participated in an international collaborative study proposed by the University of British Columbia to evaluate computer-based educational materials. The study evaluated computer-based educational materials for clinical-skills training (CyberPatient) developed at the University of British Columbia. Fourteen medical educational institutions from six countries participated in the study. Kochi Medical School's portion of the study was successfully performed in December 2001. However, we found four problems related to this collaborative study: dealing with foreign languages in educational materials, establishing rapid communication, flexibly coping with sudden changes in study design, and guaranteeing the coherence of the study design among collaborating institutions.

Background: The AO entrance examination for the Medical Course at Kochi Medical School aims to select candidates who are not only knowledgeable but also exhibit strong interpersonal and presentation skills. This study sought to determine the impact of the AO exam’s group work and presentation components on students’ success post-graduation.Methods: Clinical training supervisors’ evaluations of interpersonal and presentation abilities were compared between AO entrance exam candidates and other selected candidates.Results: AO entrants showed superior performance in establishing patient-physician relationships, participating in team medicine, and delivering case presentations compared to their counterparts.Discussion: The AO entrance examination at Kochi Medical School proves to be an effective tool for assessing candidates’ interpersonal and presentation skills, which are essential for medical practitioners.