Generation Gaps In Medical Education: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

This qualitative study aimed to explore medical students' experience of generation gap in their interactions with senior teachers (aged >55) in Japan. Focus group interviews were conducted with 28 medical students (20 to 30 years, mean age 22 +/- 2 years, classified as millennials, with only one year of studies since starting specialised courses for medicine. The participants were interviewed in groups of four, with each interview lasting 60 minutes. Topics covered included generation gap experienced in daily life and during their studies, and work-life balance issues. The discussions were recorded and transcribed, and content analysis was applied. Four specific influential generation-gap categories were identified -distinctive sociocultural backgrounds, more recent educational media tools and faster information dissemination speed, new-era values, and challenges in communication -that were consistent with findings from previous studies. More senior personnel involved in medical education need to consider these categories to enhance effectiveness of teaching.