[Introduction of Young Researchers' Association of Medical Physics and Questionnaire Survey on Medical Physics Education and Medical Physics Training System in Japan for Young Researchers in 2021].

Abstract

Details of Young Researchers' Association of Medical Physics (YRAMP) was introduced. In addition, several questionnaire surveys on medical physics education (MPE) or medical physicist training system (MPTS) in Japan have been conducted, none have targeted the current status and issues of MPE and MPTS. The purpose of this study was to investigate those from the perspective of researchers and students under 35-year-old (y.o.). The questionnaire survey was conducted between 14th September to 14th October 2021, for 112 members of the Young Researchers' Association of Medical Physics via Google Forms. The questionnaire was in two parts: MPE (Part1) and MPTS (Part2). Three subparts were constructed in Part1: Classroom lecture, Clinical training, Education course accredited by Japanese Board of Medical Physicist Qualification. Out of a total of 126 questions, 38 were mandatory to be answered. No personal information was collected. Ninety-three members (83.0%) were answered. The age structure of the respondents was as follows: 18-21, 22-26, 27-30, and 31-35 y.o.=5.4%, 36.6%, 39.8%, and 18.2%. Of the respondents, 74.2% and 11.8% answered that they first heard of "medical physics" or "medical physicist" when they were undergraduate students and in high school or younger, respectively. In Classroom lecture, 61.3%, 17.2%, and 21.5% of the respondents answered that they were "satisfied" or "moderately satisfied", "dissatisfied" or "moderately dissatisfied", and "Not sure" with the current MPE, respectively. In Clinical training, Education course, and MPTS, 58.1%, 21.5%, and 20.4% of the respondents answered that they were "satisfied" or "moderately satisfied", "dissatisfied" or "moderately dissatisfied", and "Not sure", respectively. In both MPE and MPTS, approximately 88% and 51% of the respondents answered that "holding lectures and study sessions for high school and undergraduate students" and "utilizing YouTube" would be useful in promoting MPE and MPTS in Japan, respectively. The results of the questionnaire survey will provide useful data for MPE and MPTS in Japan.