6.Medical Education in UK: Difference between UK and Japan-Practice-oriented Education in Vocational Training and University: Large Difference in Practice Both in Quality and Quantity-
Medical Education 2005;36(6):371-375
1) A short overview of undergraduate medical education in UK is presented.
2) High school graduates enter medical school of basically five years course.
3) In lower grades lectures are minor and small group learning is major.
4) Demonstration-simulation-practice is major learning strategy.
5) Students of middle and upper grades take variable clinical practices.
6) Supporting system for medical education suchas NHS or medical education centers are well established.
8.Estimated Prevalence of Higher Brain Dysfunction in Tokyo
Shu WATANABE ; Takekane YAMAGUCHI ; Keiji HASHIMOTO ; Yuuji INOGUCHI ; Makoto SUGAWARA
The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009;46(2):118-125
Higher brain dysfunction generally refers to cognitive and/or behavioral changes resulting from stroke, traumatic head injury, hypoxic encephalopathy, or any other of a number of cerebrovascular events. In 2004, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan released a provisional figure of the probable prevalence of higher brain dysfunction in Japan as some 300,000 individuals. The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of the number of people with higher brain dysfunction in Tokyo. All 651 hospitals in Tokyo were surveyed between January 7, 2008 and January 20, 2008 by questionnaire. Analysis of the data showed 118 incidents of brain damage which resulted in higher brain dysfunction. This roughly converts to 3,010 incidents per year in Tokyo. Taking life expectancy into consideration, we estimate the current number of higher brain dysfunction survivors to be 49,508 (male : 33,936, female : 15,572) in Tokyo. The social impact of higher brain dysfunction has recently emerged amid growing recognition that disturbances of attention, memory, and behavior overshadow the contribution of focal motor deficits to chronic dependency. Our data provide information about the number of people that may require appropriate provision in the community.
9.A Reference Value of Higher Brain Function for Resumption of Driving in Patients with Brain Injury
Itaru Takehara ; Masahito Hitosugi ; Shu Watanabe ; Yasufumi Hayashi ; Kyozo Yonemoto ; Masahiro Abo
The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2016;53(3):247-252
Objective:An actual-condition survey was conducted to verify the validity of reference values of higher brain function necessary for patients with brain injury to resume automobile driving. Subjects:Of the 74 patients admitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Rehabilitation Hospital between November 1, 2008 and November 30, 2012, who underwent evaluation using the hospital's automobile driving resumption system at the time of discharge, 71 patients with brain injury who were judged capable of resuming driving were included in this study. Methods:Questionnaires were sent at least 1 year after discharge, to determine whether the subjects had actually resumed automobile driving. Subjects were classified by admission date into two groups:1)A provisional reference group that included patients admitted between November 2008 and November 2011 who had resumed driving;and 2) verification group that included patients who had been admitted between December 2011 and November 2012 and had resumed driving. The relationship between results on the higher brain function test for the verification group and provisional reference values was investigated. Results:The provisional reference value group included 29 patients, and the verification group included 13 patients. In the verification group, the results of 9 patients with brain injury on the higher brain function test were within provisional reference values. Conclusion:The results of the paper-based test are a reliable predictor of whether a patient is capable of resuming driving, but do not represent an absolute standard. Therefore, the safety of resuming driving should be investigated on a case-by-case basis.
10.Characteristics of Brain Injury Patients Supported in Resumption of Driving
Itaru TAKEHARA ; Masahito HITOSUGI ; Shu WATANABE ; Yasufumi HAYASHI ; Kyozo YONEMOTO ; Masahiro ABO
The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2014;51(2):138-143
Objective : We conducted a fact-finding survey for the consecutive past 3 years to establish whether inpatients with brain injury who had wished to resume driving after discharge from our hospital had in fact resumed driving after discharge. The survey included both driving status and information about collisions. Methods : Patients who had been evaluated for resumption of driving and were discharged more than 1 year ago were sent a fact-finding survey questionnaire aimed at establishing whether they were currently driving. The patients who had resumed driving (resumers) were compared with those who had not resumed driving (non-resumers). From the questionnaire results we investigated driving status and whether collisions had occurred. Results : We obtained effective responses from 40 of the 54 people (48 males, 6 females) who were sent the questionnaire ; the collection rate was 74.1%. Of these, twenty-nine people had resumed driving, all were male. There were no significant differences between the resumers and non-resumers in higher brain function tests. In regard to driving ability, hemiparesis impairments were significantly milder in the resumers than in the non-resumers. Two respondents had hit posts or walls within the year. All these collisions occurred when parking. One respondent had a collision while driving along a road. Conclusion : We hope to provide patients with useful and appropriate information on resuming driving so that we can support them in a safe return to the driving environment.