Purpose: The revised Clinical Skills Test (CST) of the Korean Medical Licensing Exam aims to provide a better assessment of physicians’ clinical competence and ability to interact with patients. This study examined the impact of the revised CST on medical education curricula and resources nationwide, while also identifying areas for improvement within the revised CST. Methods: This study surveyed faculty responsible for clinical clerkships at 40 medical schools throughout Korea to evaluate the status and changes in clinical skills education, assessment, and resources related to the CST. The researchers distributed the survey via email through regional consortia between December 7, 2023 and January 19, 2024. Results: Nearly all schools implemented preliminary student–patient encounters during core clinical rotations. Schools primarily conducted clinical skills assessments in the third and fourth years, with a simplified form introduced in the first and second years. Remedial education was conducted through various methods, including one-on-one feedback from faculty after the assessment. All schools established clinical skills centers and made ongoing improvements. Faculty members did not perceive the CST revisions as significantly altering clinical clerkship or skills assessments. They suggested several improvements, including assessing patient records to improve accuracy and increasing the objectivity of standardized patient assessments to ensure fairness. Conclusion During the CST, students’ involvement in patient encounters and clinical skills education increased, improving the assessment and feedback processes for clinical skills within the curriculum. To enhance students’ clinical competencies and readiness, strengthening the validity and reliability of the CST is essential.

Purpose: The revised Clinical Skills Test (CST) of the Korean Medical Licensing Exam aims to provide a better assessment of physicians’ clinical competence and ability to interact with patients. This study examined the impact of the revised CST on medical education curricula and resources nationwide, while also identifying areas for improvement within the revised CST. Methods: This study surveyed faculty responsible for clinical clerkships at 40 medical schools throughout Korea to evaluate the status and changes in clinical skills education, assessment, and resources related to the CST. The researchers distributed the survey via email through regional consortia between December 7, 2023 and January 19, 2024. Results: Nearly all schools implemented preliminary student–patient encounters during core clinical rotations. Schools primarily conducted clinical skills assessments in the third and fourth years, with a simplified form introduced in the first and second years. Remedial education was conducted through various methods, including one-on-one feedback from faculty after the assessment. All schools established clinical skills centers and made ongoing improvements. Faculty members did not perceive the CST revisions as significantly altering clinical clerkship or skills assessments. They suggested several improvements, including assessing patient records to improve accuracy and increasing the objectivity of standardized patient assessments to ensure fairness. Conclusion During the CST, students’ involvement in patient encounters and clinical skills education increased, improving the assessment and feedback processes for clinical skills within the curriculum. To enhance students’ clinical competencies and readiness, strengthening the validity and reliability of the CST is essential.

Purpose: The revised Clinical Skills Test (CST) of the Korean Medical Licensing Exam aims to provide a better assessment of physicians’ clinical competence and ability to interact with patients. This study examined the impact of the revised CST on medical education curricula and resources nationwide, while also identifying areas for improvement within the revised CST. Methods: This study surveyed faculty responsible for clinical clerkships at 40 medical schools throughout Korea to evaluate the status and changes in clinical skills education, assessment, and resources related to the CST. The researchers distributed the survey via email through regional consortia between December 7, 2023 and January 19, 2024. Results: Nearly all schools implemented preliminary student–patient encounters during core clinical rotations. Schools primarily conducted clinical skills assessments in the third and fourth years, with a simplified form introduced in the first and second years. Remedial education was conducted through various methods, including one-on-one feedback from faculty after the assessment. All schools established clinical skills centers and made ongoing improvements. Faculty members did not perceive the CST revisions as significantly altering clinical clerkship or skills assessments. They suggested several improvements, including assessing patient records to improve accuracy and increasing the objectivity of standardized patient assessments to ensure fairness. Conclusion During the CST, students’ involvement in patient encounters and clinical skills education increased, improving the assessment and feedback processes for clinical skills within the curriculum. To enhance students’ clinical competencies and readiness, strengthening the validity and reliability of the CST is essential.

Purpose: In Korea, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) mandates patient participation in outpatient multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings as part of national cancer quality assessment. However, the necessity of involving patients and families in MDT discussions remains debatable. This study explored international expert perspectives on patient participation in gastric cancer MDTs. Methods: A cross-national expert survey was conducted in September 2021 among 15 gastric cancer specialists from Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. The survey assessed the frequency of patient and family member attendance, perceived pros and cons, and preferences regarding mandatory versus selective involvement. Additionally, MDT structures and policies were reviewed by countries. Results: Most respondents reported that patients and families rarely or never attend MDT meetings: nine stated that patients are never included, three reported “usually not,” and three indicated “sometimes.” None consistently included patients. The most cited benefits were sharing opinions with patients and families simultaneously, followed by improved explanation of treatment and legal protection. Major concerns included hindered discussion, inefficiency, and logistical challenges. Only four respondents supported routine participation, while 11 favored case-dependent involvement. Conclusion International experts do not widely support mandatory patient participation in MDT meetings. A flexible approach that allows MDTs to operate with or without patient involvement may better reflect actual clinical practice.

Background: Monitoring the oxygenation status is crucial during general anesthesia to ensure patient safety. Although noninvasive pulse oximetry is commonly used to monitor percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2), it may not accurately reflect changes in oxygen partial pressure when the latter is excessively high or low. The oxygen reserve index (ORi) provides real-time information about the oxygen reserve status.Case: We present a case of successful management of subglottic stenosis using balloon bronchoscopy in an infant with a left ventricular assist device implantation under ORi monitoring to predict hypoxemia during the surgical procedure. Conclusions Utilizing ORi monitoring during anesthesia for procedures involving apnea in critically ill infants can help predict impending desaturation before a drop in SpO2 occurs, allowing anesthesiologists to effectively anticipate and manage the apnea period. Continuous ORi monitoring offers valuable insights during surgical procedures, especially in infants with compromised respiratory and cardiovascular functions.

Chonnam National University Medical School has designed and implemented two career planning programs: a three-phase curriculum-based program and a longitudinal non-curricular program over the course of 6 academic years. The three phases of the curriculum-based career planning program are self-assessment, career exploration, and field experience. The non-curricular career counseling program operates through a faculty advisor system, with each faculty member guiding a group of students from each academic year, and students in each year forming a mentor-mentee relationship. The non-curricular career exploration program consists of a student research support program, an international practice program in basic and clinical medicine, and a specialty exploration fair. A survey conducted among 38 graduates (54.3%) working as interns at Chonnam National University Hospital revealed that graduates preferred autonomous elective subjects within the curriculum-based program. They also responded positively to the faculty advisor system, through which they maintained close relationships. A focus group interview with three interns indicated that subjects providing direct experience in fields of interest and courses that students could choose freely were helpful in career decisions. Through follow-up research, it is necessary to design and operate a systematic career planning program based on an analysis of the needs of graduates taking part in a residency training program after selecting a medical specialty.

Background/Aims: Functional dyspepsia (FD) has long been regarded as a syndrome because its pathophysiology is multifactorial. However, recent reports have provided evidence that changes in the duodenal ecosystem may be the key. This study aimed to identify several gastrointestinal factors and biomarkers associated with FD, specifically changes in the duodenal ecosystem that may be key to understanding its pathophysiology. Methods: In this case-control study, 28 participants (12 with FD and 16 healthy control individuals) were assessed for dietary nutrients, gastrointestinal symptom severity, immunological status of the duodenal mucosa, and microbiome composition from oral, duodenal, and fecal samples. Integrated data were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, 16S rRNA sequencing, and network analysis. Results: Duodenal mucosal inflammation and impaired expression of tight junction proteins were confirmed in patients with FD. The relative abundance of duodenal Streptococcus (p=0.014) and reductions in stool Butyricicoccus (p=0.047) were confirmed. These changes in the gut microbiota were both correlated with symptom severity. Changes in dietary micronutrients, such as higher intake of valine, were associated with improved intestinal barrier function and microbiota. Conclusions This study emphasizes the relationships among dietary nutrition, oral and gut microbiota, symptoms of FD, impaired function of the duodenal barrier, and inflammation. Assessing low-grade inflammation or increased permeability in the duodenal mucosa, along with changes in the abundance of stool Butyricicoccus, is anticipated to serve as effective biomarkers for enhancing the objectivity of FD diagnosis and monitoring.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry and daily life due to their useful properties. They have a long half-life, accumulate in the body, and there is evidence that they are associated with biomarkers of lipid metabolism and liver damage. This may suggest non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by PFAS. However, since there has been no study analyzing the relationship between PFAS and NAFLD in the entire population in Korea. We sought to confirm the relationship between serum PFAS concentration and NAFLD prevalence in Korean adults using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4.