Making and Evaluation of a Simulator for the Teaching or Learning of Abdominal Pattern in the Kampo Style by Clinical Doctors and Educational Faculty

摘要

Objective: Kampo medicine has a diagnostic method, unique to Japan, called Fukushin, designed for diagnosis of the patient's condition by touching and observing the patient's abdominal area.Material and methods: In the present study, we have tried to develop an abdominal diagnosis simulator, which is called Fukushin Simulator to learn abdominal pattern, using polyester-type synthetic plastic, synthetic leather, pile fabric, arboreous cotton, jersey, polyurethane, natural rubber, polyester-type synthetic plastic, and other materials. We asked 149 doctors undergoing training in Kampo medicine ("learners") and 14 faculty who give training in Kampo medicine ("educators") to give us their assessments of the simulator.Results: Our Fukushin Simulator consists of 6 abdominal pattern models, designed to recreate 6 significant disease patterns: excessive strain of abdominal muscles (Fukachokukin-kincho), stiffness and rigidity below the heart (Shinka-hiko), fullness in the chest and hypochondrium (Kyokyo-kuman), lower abdominal fullness (Shofuku-koman), lower abdominal numbness (Shofuku-fujin), and abdominal fluid congestion (Shinsuion). There was no significant difference between learners' or educators' evaluations in terms of usefulness, nor of interest.Conclusions: Considering the still immature state of Kampo education in Japan and the attendant paucity of pedagogical tools, we consider the Fukushin Simulator to be a useful contribution in promoting and improving abdominal diagnosis.