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    Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education
    Application progress and future trends of artificial intelligence in medical education
    Wen Deliang, Wei Xiaotong
    2026, 46 (1):  1-7.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250317-00283
    Abstract ( 44 )   PDF (884KB) ( 33 )  
    Medical education, as a critical intersection of the national strategies of “Healthy China” and “Educational Power” is experiencing an irreversible trend of integration with artificial intelligence (AI). Reflecting on the past, it is evident that AI empowerment in higher medical education has become an inevitable trend. At present, AI demonstrates immense potential in reshaping ecosystem of medical education.The role of teachers is shifting from “guardians of knowledge” to “learning choreographers”, which is reshaping a new paradigm for medical education. AI is transforming medical learning concepts and models, creating an intelligent future medical education environment and reshaping new forms of student learning. AI demonstrates unique advantages in clinical skills assessment and academic performance analysis, reconstructing a new model for medical evaluations. However, the accompanying challenges and limitations in knowledge production and dissemination cannot be overlooked. Looking to the future, the development of AI in medical education is poised to advance around the themes of ″Integration, Intelligence and International″, and combines the characteristics of medical education to propose the initiation of an action plan for AI-powered medical education, actively promoting profound changes and strategic transformation enabled by medical education. Medical educators should leverage the leading role of AI while adhering to the inherent principles of education and the fundamental attributes of nurturing individuals, thereby promoting innovation and transformation in medical education to meet the opportunities and challenges of the new era.
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    Exploring the path, challenges, and prospects of artificial intelligence in empowering human morphology curriculum construction
    Wei Xiaofan, Wu Jianghua, Chi Xiaochun, Zhang Weiguang, Peng Yihong
    2026, 46 (1):  8-14.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250930-01223
    Abstract ( 31 )   PDF (911KB) ( 21 )  
    As a fundamental discipline in medical education, human morphology faces multidimensional challenges in its traditional teaching models focusing on morphological structures and functional correlations during the digital era. Addressing the demand for intelligent transformation in medical education, this paper systematically explores the implementation pathways for empowering human morphology curriculum development with Artificial Intelligence (AI), encompassing both theoretical and laboratory instruction. It focuses on innovative applications in core teaching scenarios, including AI-powered smart course construction driven by knowledge graphs, the development of AI image recognition systems, and the integration of AI with virtual simulation experiments, while also envisioning their potential prospects. The research further conducts an in-depth analysis of critical issues such as technical adaptation bottlenecks, cognitive risks in practical applications, and synergistic mechanisms between intelligent technologies and conventional pedagogy. Targeted solutions are proposed to provide forward-looking and practical strategic insights for reforming human morphology education in the AI era.
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    Advancements in evaluating the effectiveness of virtual standardized patients
    Yu Jialong, Li Yue, Qin Jianxing, Wu Junfang, Xu Yong
    2026, 46 (1):  15-20.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20240722-00770
    Abstract ( 15 )   PDF (916KB) ( 8 )  
    Virtual standardized patients (VSPs), as computer-based programs capable of accurately simulating clinical scenarios, have become important educational tools in medical training. However, their effectiveness remains debated, underscoring the need for a systematic review of evaluation approaches. This study summarizes current progress in VSP effectiveness assessment across two major dimensions: learning effectiveness and system evaluation. Learning effectiveness assessment encompasses criterion-referenced evaluation, expert evaluation, and additional emerging methods, reflecting learners' training outcomes through quantitative indicators, professional judgments, experience-level differences, and physiological or behavioral responses. System evaluation focuses on technical design, simulation fidelity, and learning practicality, covering key indicators such as usability, authenticity, and sense of presence, and incorporates multiple assessment tools and methodologies. Existing research reveals limitations in current VSP evaluation, including methodological constraints, limited tool diversity, and insufficient longitudinal follow-up. Future work should develop multidimensional and more objective evaluation frameworks to enhance the scientific rigor and practical value of VSPs in medical education.
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    Talent Training Models
    Practice of global health talents training at Tsinghua University in the context of ″the Belt and Road″
    Xu Jinhuai, Cheng Feng, Yin Cong, Li Yuxuan, Wang Mengting, Wang Ao, Zhong Li, Tang Kun
    2026, 46 (1):  21-24.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20241231-01382
    Abstract ( 20 )   PDF (823KB) ( 9 )  
    With accelerating globalization and the rising cross-border spread of diseases, the global and interdependent nature of health challenges has been increasingly recognized, and the development of global health professionals has become a major priority for the international community. In response, the international master of public health (IMPH) program was launched at Tsinghua University in 2016. Through this program, an integrated ″classroom-practice-policy″ teaching system has been established, in which global health governance is combined with China's public health practice, forming a global health training model with distinctive Chinese characteristics. By 2024, the program had enrolled 175 students from 46 countries and successfully graduated 152 (86.9%) of them. Of these graduates, 139 (91.4%) were from ″the Belt and Road″ countries, and 132 (86.8%) had returned to work in their home-country health systems. Through the IMPH program, cooperation and exchange in public health between China and ″the Belt and Road″ countries have been strengthened. The IMPH program offers a useful reference model for training high-level health professionals in developing countries and is of significance for building a global community of health for all.
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    Curriculum-based Political and Virtuous Awareness
    Design and implementation of discussion-oriented observation classes in the training of clinical teachers' political and virtuous awareness competence
    Li Shasha, Chang Shi, Ouyang Yang, Wu Jing, Zhang Nini, Liu Yuan, Chen Wangqing, Li Yaping
    2026, 46 (1):  25-30.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20240409-00368
    Abstract ( 17 )   PDF (858KB) ( 10 )  
    Objective To explore the design key points of discussion-oriented observation classes on political and virtuous awareness education,to clarifytheir implementation effects and to provide a reference for training to address the lack of faculty competence and methodological resources on political and virtuous awareness education. Methods Organized and designed by the Academic Affairs Office in Xiangya Hospital ofCentral South University, 14Discussion-oriented observation classes on political and virtuous awareness education were conducted from March to May and November to December 2023, following a three-phase workflow: pre-class preparation and design, in-class observation and discussion, and post-class evaluation and reflection. Data were collected in real time after classes, including 838 student questionnaire responses, feedback from 14 teaching instructors, calculating the item scores according to the Likert 10-point scale; and insights from 153 supervisors and peer teachers through real-time and end-of-term discussions. One week post-class, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 12 instructors. General descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the results. Results The results showed that the 14 teachers who participated in the teaching activities gave feedback after the class, stating that they had designed the teaching objectives, content and methods more meticulously (9.46±0.97) points, had more deeply considered the key points and difficulties of the ideological and political teaching in the course (9.46±0.97) points, had fully utilized the designed elements and cases of ideological and political teaching in the course (9.00±1.45) points, and had more opportunities to communicate and collaborate with other subject teachers (8.77±1.36) points. The 838 students' feedback indicated that the observation class made them feel that the teaching was meticulously designed (9.21±1.35) points, could always capture their attention (8.96±1.70) points, and were very willing to participate in the interactive activities of this class (8.87±1.78) points. All 12 teachers who participated in the interview believed that the discussion-based observation class improved their understanding of ideological and political teaching and teaching ability through in-depth teaching design and reflection and improvement, and would apply this experience to subsequent teaching.Experts and peers recommend that teachers integrate political and virtuous awareness elements by aligning them with the characteristics of the discipline, the unique features of the course, and student interests. They also advise administrative departments to institutionalize discussion-oriented observation classes and establish incentive mechanisms. Conclusions Discussion-oriented observation classes facilitated clinical teachers' instructional design and post-class reflection on political and virtuous awareness education in the curriculum, enhanced their teaching competence in this area, and exerted a positive impact on subsequent teaching practices. Meanwhile, these classes also enhanced students' learning experience.
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    Professionalism Education
    Research on the theoretical framework and implementation path of professionalism education in the second classroom for clinical medicine freshmen
    Liu Fang, Zhang Yuhao, Zhang Lijuan
    2026, 46 (1):  31-36.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250210-00127
    Abstract ( 20 )   PDF (2482KB) ( 4 )  
    Professionalism education for medical students is a crucial teaching task in medical schools. This study constructs a four-dimensional educational pathway for clinical medicine freshmen' professionalism education in the second classroom, based on the core theoretical frameworks of knowledge philosophy and interactive teaching theory. The four dimensions are: ″unidirectional transmission-explicit knowledge″, ″bidirectional transmission-explicit knowledge″, ″unidirectional transmission-tacit knowledge″ and ″bidirectional transmission-tacit knowledge.″ These dimensions are implemented across four educational modules: professional perception, value orientation, humanistic sentiment, and sense of responsibility. A survey of 296 clinical medicine students in five-year and eight-year programs from the 2021 and 2022 cohorts was conducted in March 2024 through questionnaires to assess the effectiveness of their improvement in professionalism. The results indicate that medical freshmen showed the most significant improvement in humanistic sentiment and sense of responsibility. Students rated educational pathways with stronger practical experiences more favorably, suggesting the need to further optimize the design of explicit educational pathways and enhance the integration of extracurricular educational content with the first classroom, as well as its alignment with students' daily studies and campus practices.
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    Research on the impact of organizational support and organizational identification on professionalism of resident physicians
    Chen Ming, Ju Hui
    2026, 46 (1):  37-41.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250507-00508
    Abstract ( 12 )   PDF (873KB) ( 1 )  
    Objective To investigate the effects of organizational support and organizational identification on professionalism among resident physicians and the underlying influence mechanisms, to suggest strategies to cultivate professionalism of resident physicians and facilitate the high-quality development of standardized residency training. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among resident physicians at a tertiary hospital in Beijing from August 2024 to June 2025. The survey instruments comprised of scales for organizational support, organizational identification, and professionalism. A structural equation model was established to analyze the pathways whereby organizational support and identification affect professionalism, and the bootstrap method was applied to examine the mediating effect of organizational identification. Results The average score of organizational support, organizational identification, and professionalism were (4.32±0.53), (4.29±0.56) and (4.55±0.46), respectively, among which pairwise correlations were found among organizational support, organizational identification, and professionalism (r=0.734-0.851, P<0.001). The results of the structural equation modeling analysis revealed that both organizational support (β=0.401) and organizational identification (β=0.486) had a significant positive impact on professionalism (all P<0.05). The mediation analysis indicated that organizational identification played a mediating role in the effect of organizational support on professionalism (indirect effect: 51.0%). Conclusions Resident physicians have a high level of organizational support, organizational identification and professionalism. Organizational identification plays a partial mediating role in the impact of organizational support on professionalism. Training bases are advised to promote professionalism training by enhancing organizational support to foster resident physicians' organizational identification.
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    Educational Technologies
    Design and application of small private online courses (SPOC) combined with knowledge graph in surgical operative medicine teaching
    Sang Jianfeng, Dai Linghui, Shi Xianbiao, Zhang Guang, Sang yiran, Li Xiu
    2026, 46 (1):  42-46.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20241231-01384
    Abstract ( 11 )   PDF (864KB) ( 5 )  
    To enhance the teaching effectiveness of the surgical course, small private online courses (SPOC) combined with a knowledge graph was designed and developed. This course was implemented from November 2023 to November 2024 among 80 clinical undergraduate students from grade 2019 and 2020 at one university in Nanjing. Teaching effectiveness was evaluated through analysis of students' clinical rotation assessment scores, and a questionnaire survey. The clinical rotation assessment scores of the 80 students from the 2019 and 2020 cohorts averaged (85.93±7.67) points. Among the 67 students who participated in the questionnaire survey, all agreed that the course content covered the essential knowledge of surgical studies, and 66(98.5%) students expressed satisfaction with the course content. The course was demonstrated to enhance the acquisition of surgical knowledge and received positive recognition from the students.
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    Design and application of a stepwise nursing history-taking training model based on virtual patients
    Du Jingrong, Wang Juan, Wang Ziwen, Zheng Jing, Zhu Xiaowen, Zhao Juanjuan, Li Kun
    2026, 46 (1):  47-52.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250124-00096
    Abstract ( 12 )   PDF (870KB) ( 4 )  
    Objective To design a virtual patient (VP)-based stepwise history-taking training model and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods Based on the natural progression of history-taking ability training, this study developed a VP-based stepwise training model that transitions from single-symptom history to comprehensive case history. A total of 392 nursing undergraduates participated from March 2020 to June 2022. The grade 2019 of 206 students formed the experimental group and underwent stepwise VP history-taking training: symptom history-taking during the basic health assessment course and case history-taking during the professional internal medicine nursing course. The grade 2018 of 186 students received traditional teaching. Data were collected at the beginning of the health assessment course (T0), the end of the health assessment course (T1), and internal medicine nursing courses (T2). Due to the data not following a normal distribution, Generalized Estimating Equations were used to conduct statistical analysis on the outcome indicators. Results The experimental group's self-assessed history-taking scores increased by 2.24 points at T1 and 3.28 points at T2; the between-group differences in score change were statistically significant at both time points (T1:P =0.04; T2: P=0.03). The experimental group's critical thinking scores increased by 3.26 points at T1 and 4.60 points at T2; the between-group difference in score change was statistically significant only at T2 (T1: P>0.05; T2: P< 0.001). The difference in supportive communication score changes of two groups was not significant at T1 and T2 (P>0.05). Conclusions The stepwise VP history-taking training model can significantly improve students' history-taking skills and critical thinking abilities.
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    Clinical Teaching
    Practical values and implementation pathways of expanding child and adolescent psychiatry training among pediatric residents in China
    Pan Meirong, Tang Ni, Qi Jianguang, Chen Weiran, Zhu Zhengjie, Cao Qingjiu, Si Tianmei
    2026, 46 (1):  53-58.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250217-00157
    Abstract ( 14 )   PDF (877KB) ( 6 )  
    The high prevalence and significant social burden of mental disorders among children and adolescents underscore the importance of expanding child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) resources. To attain this objective, enhancing the knowledge and skills of pediatric residents in child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) is paramount. Expansion of CAP training among pediatric residents has amassed a solid foundation overseas, offering invaluable experience for its implementation in China. This article systematically reviews the practice and research of the CAP training among pediatric residents on an international scale, and, based on this, proposes actionable implementation pathways on how to expand CAP training among pediatric residents in our country by integrating China's specific contextual needs, foundation, and support. These include conducting systematic investigations, formulating structured training programs, and refining assessment and certification mechanisms, etc. The study aims to promote the systematic development of CAP training programs among pediatric residents in China through the above series of measures. It is expected to provide robust workforce support for expanding CAMHS resources and achieving hierarchical diagnosis and treatment. Ultimately, this effort will contribute to building a comprehensive workforce cultivation system and optimizing the allocation of healthcare resources.
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    A qualitative study on teachers' perspectives of improving integrated ophthalmology teaching strategies
    Ao Mingxin, Chen Yueguo, Zhang Yu, Sun Yanxiu, Han Liang
    2026, 46 (1):  59-66.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250806-00907
    Abstract ( 10 )   PDF (2323KB) ( 4 )  
    Objective To explore the practical dilemmas faced by teachers in the construction of integrated ophthalmology teaching for clinical medicine majors and identify the potential strategies for optimization. Methods A qualitative study was adopted for focus group interview of teacher perspectives through open-ended interview questions. From August to October 2024, a semi-structured interview was conducted with 22 faculty teachers from the Department of Ophthalmology in Peking University Third Hospital by purposive sampling. The transcribed text materials were analyzed by thematic analysis to induce and form interview themes. Results Four core themes were extracted from the interview data: (1) The implementation strategies of the integrated ophthalmology teaching still require further refinement; (2) Teaching content across subspecialties needs systematic reconstruction to fully aligned with the integrated teaching model; (3) Interactive teaching formats should be accurately matched to teaching objectives and knowledge types; (4) The design of teaching case needs to integrate ophthalmology professional knowledge, scientific thinking, and medical humanities connotation, while the enhancement of collaboration among teachers from different disciplines was crucial. Conclusions Constructing standardized teaching implementation paradigms, reconstructing teaching content, and adopting differentiated interactive teaching strategies are essential for advancing the reform of integrated ophthalmology teaching. Additionally, establishing a multidisciplinary collaborative mechanism for teaching case development is necessary to demonstrate the advantages of integrated teaching.
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    Graduate Education
    Research on the construction of a medical leadership training system for professional degree doctoral students in clinical medicine
    Li Chenxi, Liu Zhi, Cui Shuang, Teng Fei, Zhang Ying, Xu Ming, Ta Na, Duan Liping
    2026, 46 (1):  67-72.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250515-00549
    Abstract ( 14 )   PDF (1027KB) ( 10 )  
    To advance the Healthy China strategy and the construction of a strong education system, Peking University has explored the construction of the medical leadership training system for professional degree doctoral students in clinical medicine. This initiative addresses the long-term development of MD candidates, the enhancement of medical education systems, and the evolving demands of the healthcare industry. Through theoretical research, current status surveys, and expert consultations, the study systematically develops a competency-based framework. The proposed training system centers on the core dimensions of medical leadership, employs a certification program as a progressive pathway, and innovatively incorporates a dual-degree program to meet the diverse, multi-level, and multi-stage leadership development needs of MD candidates. This paper elaborates on the system's guiding principles, structural framework, and practical approaches, offering innovative insights and practical references for comprehensive reforms in MD education at medical universities and colleges.
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    Medical Education Assessment
    Development of teaching performance evaluation index system for clinical departments and test of its reliability and validity
    Jia Mian, Tan Meimei, Gan Jirui, Guan Yuping, Li Ying
    2026, 46 (1):  73-77.  DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20250617-00678
    Abstract ( 18 )   PDF (874KB) ( 13 )  
    Objective To develop a clinical department teaching performance evaluation index system and analyze its reliability, validity, and discrimination, in order to explore improvement plans. Methods From May 2021 to December 2024, a theoretical framework for the clinical department teaching performance evaluation system was constructed based on the Delphi method. Through expert consultation, 3 first-level indicators (teaching workload, teaching quality, teaching achievements), 10 second-level indicators, and 25 third-level indicators were selected. Teaching data from 77 clinical departments in a case hospital were included. Cronbach's α coefficient and factor analysis were used to test reliability and validity, while the product-moment correlation analysis was applied to assess discrimination. Results The Cronbach's α coefficient of the index system was 0.775. Factor analysis extracted two common factors (teaching workload and teaching achievements), with a cumulative contribution rate of 52.4%. Except for three third-level indicators under the first-level indicator ″teaching quality″: teacher-student mutual evaluation, the compliance rate of continuing education, and teaching incident assessment, all other indicators showed significant discrimination (discrimination index ranging from 0.323 to 0.687, all P<0.001). Conclusions The clinical department teaching performance evaluation index system demonstrates good reliability and validity. Teaching workload and teaching achievements effectively reflect clinical teaching performance. However, indicators related to teaching quality require further optimization. This index system provides a scientific tool for performance assessment of teaching in clinical departments.
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