Kim, Kim, Lee, Jang, and Park: Survey and Suggestions on the Educational and Research Environment of Graduate Students of Korean Medicine: Focusing on fostering of KMD-scientist
Original Article
The Journal of Korean Medicine 2023; 44(3): 59-73.
1Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205,
USA
2Department of Internal Korean Medicine, Woosuk University Medical Center, Jeonju, 54987,
South Korea
3Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul,
South Korea
4Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120,
South Korea
5Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul,
South Korea
Correspondence to: Sa-Yoon Park, Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea, E-mail: sayou92@gachon.ac.kr
Received July 8, 2023 Revised July 25, 2023 Accepted August 17, 2023
Abstract
Objectives
The role of physician-scientists who bridge the gap between basic science and clinical medicine is crucial in advancing medical innovation. This study aims to examine the educational and research environment and career satisfaction of graduate students in Korean Medicine among those who are Korean medicine doctor (KMD).
Methods
This study analyzed the results of a survey consisting of respondents’ composition, job status, graduate education and job satisfaction, economic conditions, career determinants, and obstacles to the career path of KMD-scientists from 65 participants including both full-time and part-time graduate students.
Results
The results revealed significant differences between full-time and part-time graduate students in terms of weekly hours spent and job priorities, motivation for entering graduate school, career preferences, and desired career paths. The study highlights the need for tailored support for full-time and part-time graduate students and the importance of economic assistance in fostering KM scientists. Economic difficulties were identified as a major obstacle for full-time graduate students pursuing research careers. Tuition fees were found to be a significant burden for all graduate students. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of enhancing the research capabilities of part-time graduate students and improving the quality of education to foster KMD-scientists.
Conclusion
This research provides essential insights for Korean Medicine colleges and graduate schools to develop targeted improvement plans and effectively train KMD-scientist.
Actual conditions of graduate students’ research environment
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Adj p val
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Number of lectures (per semester)
9.91
4.04
10.89
4.27
9.53
3.93
0.48
Time (hour/week)
Education
5.13
3.89
5.00
2.57
5.18
4.31
0.91
Research
15.96
13.37
30.83
12.69
10.27
8.33
<0.01
Clinic
26.23
19.21
3.33
2.57
35.00
15.08
<0.01
Administration
5.83
7.86
8.06
9.53
4.98
7.04
0.46
Priority
N
%
N
%
N
%
Adj p val
Education
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
Research
25
38.46
18
100
7
14.89
<0.01
Clinic
39
60
0
0
39
82.98
<0.01
Administration
1
1.54
0
0
1
2.13
0.49
N, number; SD, standard deviation; Adj p val, adjusted p value
Table 3
Satisfaction of Graduate Education and Research
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Adj p val
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Education Overall Satisfaction
3.52
1.35
3.83
0.92
3.40
1.47
0.43
Departments and laboratories provide sufficient education on the basic skills required as researchers (research design, research conduct, research presentation, thesis writing, thesis submission, etc.)
3.58
1.55
3.89
1.41
3.56
1.60
0.48
The coursework taken in graduate school is sufficient to deepen the competence in the major area
3.32
1.39
3.44
1.25
3.28
1.46
0.78
The affiliated department announces the graduation requirements and ensures that they are followed
4.43
1.00
4.22
1.26
4.51
0.88
0.56
Supervisory guidance was sufficient for research
4.03
1.20
4.22
1.11
3.96
1.23
0.56
Meetings on research topics are held regularly between affiliated laboratory members (advisor, fellow researchers)
3.73
1.42
4.06
1.21
3.61
1.48
0.46
Overall satisfaction with research conditions
3.30
1.23
3.28
1.07
3.30
1.30
0.93
Working hours and workload for research activities are manageable
3.60
1.15
3.56
1.20
3.61
1.15
0.91
Satisfied with the economic conditions (salary, etc.) given for research activities
1.98
1.02
2.06
1.00
1.95
1.04
0.81
Sufficient resources (manpower, facilities, equipment, etc.) required for research activities are available
2.80
1.38
3.11
1.45
2.69
1.36
0.48
Lab meetings attended by the advisor and lab members are held in a free and open atmosphere.
4.02
1.06
4.22
0.94
3.94
1.11
0.48
A feeling of respect from my family and society as a researcher
4.05
1.08
4.22
0.94
3.99
1.13
0.56
N, number; SD, standard deviation; Adj p val, adjusted p value
Table 4
Economic Conditions
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Adj p val
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Overall economic conditions
2.84
1.20
2.39
1.09
3.02
1.21
0.21
Monthly income (10,000 KRW)
487.71
419.56
227.00
116.99
587.56
450.65
<0.01
Labor cost (10,000 KRW/month)
57.18
88.92
171.11
68.00
13.55
47.63
<0.01
Desired labor cost (10,000 KRW /month)
321
180.57
283.33
95.49
335.43
203.04
0.43
Labor cost satisfaction
2.16
0.80
2.22
0.88
2.13
0.78
0.81
Tuition (10,000 KRW/semester)
678.52
143.72
723.06
126.64
661.46
147.43
0.35
Source of Tuition (1st priority, duplicate allowed)
N
%
N
%
N
%
Adj p val
Self-funded
31
44.29
2
9.52
29
59.18
<0.01
Scholarship
13
18.57
9
42.86
4
8.16
0.01
Family
8
11.43
4
19.05
4
8.16
0.43
Loan
16
22.86
5
23.81
11
22.45
1.00
Etc.
2
2.86
1
4.76
1
2.04
0.77
N, number; SD, standard deviation; Adj p val, adjusted p value
Table 5
Career Path
Motivation for starting graduate education (duplicate answers allowed)
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Adj p val
N
%
N
%
N
%
Recommendation of people
12
7.45
3
6.82
9
7.69
1.00
Alternatives to military service
1
0.62
0
0
1
0.85
1.00
To gain a master’s degree
13
8.07
0
0
13
11.11
0.08
To build career
29
18.01
3
6.82
26
22.22
0.04
Clinic
7
4.35
1
2.27
6
5.13
0.94
Self-realization
34
21.12
11
25.00
23
19.66
0.90
Anxiety about finding a job
0
0.00
0
0
0
0
-
To contribute to the development of Korean Medicine
27
16.77
10
22.73
17
14.53
0.59
Interest in research and intellectual inquiry
38
23.60
16
36.36
22
18.80
0.04
Desired career
Public research
4
6.15
3
16.67
1
2.13
0.21
University
13
20
10
55.56
3
6.38
<0.01
Private sector
1
1.54
1
5.56
0
0
0.54
Clinical field
43
66.15
2
11.11
41
87.23
<0.01
Government
3
4.62
2
11.11
1
2.13
0.43
Start-up
1
1.54
0
0
1
2.13
1.00
Relevant to Korean Medicine
58
89.23
16
88.89
42
89.36
0.92
Would you consider attending the graduate school where you are currently enrolled if you could choose again whether to start your graduate degree programs at a Korean medical school?
47
72.31
12
66.67
35
74.47
0.95
Would you recommend your fellow Korean medicine doctors to attend a graduate school (full-time or part-time) of a Korean medical school?
40
61.54
13
72.22
27
57.45
0.77
Are you likely to recommend full-time research to other Korean medical doctors?
12
18.46
6
33.33
6
12.77
0.37
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Adj p val
Is your graduate school experience encouraging you to pursue a career as a full-time researcher?
2.94
1.38
3.44
1.25
2.74
1.39
0.48
Would you consider a career in research after graduation?
3.19
1.38
4.11
1.08
2.83
1.32
<0.01
Career determinants
Having a family life
3.78
1.23
3.39
1.33
3.94
1.17
0.40
Economic factors
4.42
0.95
3.89
1.13
4.62
0.80
0.10
Work location
3.92
1.19
3.94
1.16
3.91
1.21
0.93
Honor
3.51
1.23
3.56
1.20
3.49
1.25
0.91
Having a social impact
3.75
1.17
4.17
0.71
3.60
1.28
0.12
Work-life balance
4.00
1.33
3.78
1.48
4.09
1.28
0.59
Self-development
4.62
0.58
4.67
0.49
4.60
0.61
0.78
N, number; SD, standard deviation; Adj p val, adjusted p value
Table 6
Barriers to Korean Medicine Doctor Scientists’ Career Path
Conflict
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Adj p val
N
%
N
%
N
%
No conflict or not participating in the lab as a researcher
43
66.15
10
55.56
33
70.21
1.00
Responsibilities outside of research
13
33.33
4
22.22
9
19.15
1.00
Unreasonable labor cost payments
8
20.51
4
22.22
4
8.51
0.43
Credit distribution not based on research performance
6
15.38
1
5.56
5
10.64
1.00
Different personalities of each member
5
12.82
1
5.56
4
8.51
1.00
Violation of research ethics, such as coercion of laboratory fees and handling of wrong receipts
4
10.26
0
0.00
4
8.51
0.85
Advisor’s unfair evaluation of the thesis or research project
2
5.13
0
0.00
2
4.26
1.00
Abusive language or violence that violates human rights
1
2.56
1
5.56
0
0.00
0.54
Miscellaneous work
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Adj p val
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Non-research workload in laboratories and departments
2.41
1.47
2.78
1.44
2.26
2.26
0.46
Does your department and laboratory pay you enough for your work on activities unrelated to graduation research?
2.71
0.93
2.98
1.09
2.60
2.60
0.46
N
%
N
%
N
%
Adj p val
Not doing extraneous work
33
50.77
2
11.11
31
65.96
<0.01
Lab administrative work
17
32.69
8
44.44
9
19.15
0.32
Administrative work of department, university, and academic society
13
25
5
27.78
8
17.02
0.90
Teaching assistant
15
28.85
8
44.44
7
14.89
0.15
Equipment management for lab experiments
2
3.85
2
11.11
0
0.00
0.23
Personal errands of advisors and seniors
5
9.62
3
16.67
2
4.26
0.33
Reason for miscellaneous work
There were economic difficulties.
4
6.15
3
16.67
1
2.13
0.21
It was expected to be helpful in forming personal connections for academia or employment.
5
7.69
3
16.67
2
4.26
0.33
I expected to gain research experience or learn something new
22
33.85
13
72.22
9
19.15
<0.01
I hoped that it would be helpful to my research performance or to obtaining data.
11
16.92
6
33.33
5
10.64
0.31
It was difficult to refuse because it was an order from my advisor (including implicit instructions).
18
27.69
5
27.78
13
27.66
0.95
It was difficult to refuse because it was an order from a senior (including an implicit instructions).
2
3.08
0
0.00
2
4.26
1.00
It is a customary
7
10.77
0
0.00
7
14.89
0.43
N, number; SD, standard deviation; Adj p val, adjusted p value
Table 7
Intention and Awareness about Fostering Research Activity
Total
Full-time
Part-time
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Satisfaction with research activity support
1.77
0.98
1.67
0.97
1.80
0.99
N
%
N
%
N
%
Applying for research activity support (yes)
21
32.31
12
66.67
9
19.15
Selected as a research activity support project
15
71.43
9
75.00
6
66.67
Reasons for not applying for research activity support project
I was unaware of the presence a support project
17
38.64
5
83.33
12
31.58
I was aware of the support project’s existence but didn’t feel the necessity to apply
4
9.09
0
0
4
10.53
I had the intention to apply, but there were no applicable support projects available
9
20.45
1
16.67
8
21.05
Intention to apply fostering research activity
35
53.85
16
88.89
19
40.43
Acknowledgement of fostering research activity
Comprehensive understanding
4
6.15
3
16.67
1
2.13
Partial awareness
28
43.08
9
50.00
19
40.43
Complete unawareness
32
49.23
6
33.33
26
55.32
N, number; SD, standard deviation
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