Effect of clinical clerkship on students' attitudes toward medical learning in Japan: a case study at Kinki University School of Medicine.

A 20-item questionnaire was administered to 253 physicians and 111 medical students, who did not have previous clinical clerkship experience, upon completion of their clinical clerkship. Medical students responded that they enjoyed their clinical clerkships but felt pressured and physically tired. Ninety percent of these medical students developed expectations for their career choice during their clinical clerkship. Only 18% of physicians felt that they allowed students enough chance to participate in clinical practice. We must emphasize that the success of any clinical clerkship system depends on an effective communication system between physicians and medical students.