Online Problem Based Learning in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Nagoya University, Japan

Abstract Purpose Mental health care is limited worldwide, especially for children and adolescents. In the case of Japan, one in five children has a mental health problem. However, there are barriers to using mental health services for children and adolescents, including a shortage of standardized training programs and the subsequent workforce. To solve this, Japan adapted Problem Based Learning (PBL) to enhance standardized medical education about Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP). This study aims to evaluate online CAP studies at Nagoya University (NU), Japan, with a focus on PBL materials. Design and methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at NU with a questionnaire developed under the Trondheim-Nagoya (TroNA) project by NU and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The questionnaire measuring students' perceptions and understanding of the PBL curriculum and PBL in CAP consisted of 15 questions using a three-point Likert scale. To compare PBL CAP delivered online (2021) with established PBL CAP carried out in person (2019) at NU, an identical questionnaire was used both in 2019 and 2021. Results The majority of medical students in both in-person (82.5%) and online (91.2%) classes agreed that PBL helped them to develop clinical problem-solving skills. In addition, 53.6% of students in in-person class and 75.8% of students in online class thought PBL enhanced their understanding of CAP. In terms of specific case scenarios, the majority of students in the in-person class (59.8%) and online class (74.7%) agreed that the PBL case helped them to understand the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in CAP. Conclusion Most of the NU medical students were generally satisfied with CAP's online PBL curriculum. The online PBL CAP curriculum with specific case scenarios can provide medical students with suitable educational means. This study can be a cornerstone for establishing online PBL education in CAP and making plans to attract more future doctors to CAP.