Importance of Inclusive Education in General Medicine Through the Perception of Medical Trainees: A Thematic Analysis

Background General medical education plays a pivotal role in ensuring holistic care in the context of rapidly aging populations. Japan’s demographic trends underscore the significance of general medicine in elevating community care standards. Understanding and catering to the aspirations, perceptions, and ideals of medical students and residents can significantly augment the effectiveness of general medicine education. This research aimed to explore the perspectives of medical students on the ideal tenets of general medicine education in rural Japan. Method A qualitative approach was employed, focusing on medical students and residents with a keen interest in general medicine, all of whom underwent training at a rural-based Japanese hospital. Through semi-structured interviews, insightful data were garnered and subsequently subjected to a comprehensive thematic analysis. Results The thematic analysis unearthed three core themes: commitment of educators in valuing learner diversity, promotion and understanding of general medicine, and inclusivity and diversity in educational institutions. The first highlighted the centrality of educators’ sincerity, emphasizing the importance of genuine, sustained interactions that foster mutual respect and collaborative learning. The second theme underscored the need to elucidate the intrinsic value and modern-day relevance of general medicine, emphasizing its deep roots in community-based practices and its continuity with long-standing medical traditions. The third theme spotlighted the crucial role of comprehensive medical education in fostering enriching dialogues, embracing varied learning experiences, and capitalizing on the distinctive strengths of educational institutions. Conclusion These findings underscore the pivotal shift required in pedagogical approaches to comprehensive medical education. A genuine collaborative educator-learner relationship, the reframing of general medicine’s significance rooted in community welfare, and a strong emphasis on inclusivity and dialogue form the cornerstones of these insights. This study provides a touchstone for restructuring educational strategies, aiming for a more integrated, genuine, and encompassing framework that is particularly vital for the effective propagation of general medicine in regions such as Japan.