This paper reports on the practical course in health care administration that our fifth-year medical students are required to take in order to facilitate team health care. The course is intended to give students an opportunity to review health care from various viewpoints, including those of patients and ancillary medical personnel. In the present study, we used students' reports and a survey carried out immediately after the course, to measure student reactions and to examine the usefulness and possible improvements for the course.
Approximately 90% of the students acknowledged value in this method of teaching, and believed their experience would help them in the future when they are doctors. Furthermore, the results of an anonymous questionnaire given to doctors with up to five years of postgraduate experience revealed that more than 60% of them supported the continuation of this type of practical course in team health care as a part of medical education.