Analysis of the curriculum of medical humanities and social medicine in Colleges of Korean Medicine based on KAS2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the curriculum of the medical humanities and social medicine at 11 Colleges of Korean Medicine (CKM) based on the Korean Medicine Education Accreditation Standards 2021 (KAS2021) and suggest ways to improve the quality of Korean Medical education in the future. Methods: The curricula for each grade were collected from the websites of 11 CKM. Based on KAS2021, medical humanities and social medicine courses were extracted and compiled. Courses offered, frequency of course offerings, time of offerings, credits, and course hours were investigated. Results: Courses in languages and literature were most frequently offered in CKM. Most medical humanities and social medicine courses were offered in the pre-medical program and the fourth year of the medical program and were conducted as individual courses. Developing a curriculum that integrates conceptual definitions of the medical humanities and social medicine with basic and clinical studies is necessary. Conclusion: Eleven CKM should reorganize and operate their medical humanities and social medicine curricula based on each college's circumstances. This will allow each college to improve the quality of its educational offerings, creating a foundation for fostering excellent korean medicine doctors with professional medical skills and communication skills.