Through our experiences in faculty development workshops, we realized that we had not sufficiently understood the problems clinical educators had been facing on site. Thus, we planned to perform qualitative research as part of a needs assessment in faculty development workshops.
1)We aimed to analyze and structuralize previously unclarified underlying problems by exploring what clinical educators were worried about regarding the initial residency program.
2)We performed a questionnaire survey of 214 physicians participating in faculty development workshops and qualitatively analyzed their responses in the form of free comments.
3)Once declaring that they would "start with accepting the program," clinical educators are unaware of their ignorance and unacceptably criticize the residency system, such that their "ignorance disguised as criticism" is highlighted.
4)With the introduction of the new residency system, a framework for building relationships as a system, which requires residents to be trained in a particular organization, no longer works, causing significant confusion on site.

This study explored the general public's perception of the clinical competence of residents. Methods: Individual interviews of laypersons, medical students, and residents and focus-group interviews of residents were conducted. Results: Individual interviews revealed the belief that residents acquired various clinical skills immediately after passing the national examination for medical practitioners. These skills included: assessment of the need for referrals, on-call jobs for after-hours and emergency services, interpreting X-ray films, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, performing surgery for appendicitis, and treating bone fractures and joint dislocations. Focus-group interviews revealed differences between residents and laypersons in the perception of residents' clinical skills. These skills included: general knowledge of diseases and medications, guidance about lifestyle after discharge, physical examinations, explanation of treatment, diagnostic imaging, and knowledge of or expertise in other medical professions. Conclusion: Laypersons and medical personnel have different perceptions about the clinical competence of residents.