Comparative Study Of Physician Qualification Examinations In China And America

Due to the reforms of global medical education and development of variety of medical education systems, great importance is attached to the quality medical education by World Health Organization (WHO) and researchers in medical field in many countries in the past several decades. To insure the quality of medical education and guarantee the competency of medical practitioners, passing the physician qualification examination has become the necessary step for licensure in the United States of America, Germany, Britain, Japan, Korea, and many other countries. In 1999, China began to implement the physician qualification examination according to the Law on Medical Practitioners in the People's Republic of China. However, since it was a new attempt, there were so many problems such as in examination forms, contents, organization, and management, as compared with those in some developed countries, suggesting that further studies should be conducted. In this study, we analyzed the advantages and disadvantages in the physician qualification examination in China by comparative analysis, literature colligation analysis, and experts' consultation in China and in America. Moreover, we put forward some suggestions for the reforms of physician qualification examination in China based on the condition and practice in our country, and more importantly, by learning and referring to the achievements and experience of United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) on the theories, contents, methods, techniques, and etc. for the examination. Our results can provide experience and practice for the examination in our country, and can also be helpful to the reforms of medical education and the promotion of the examination in China to keep pace with the international level. This study is composed of five parts as follows: Part I: Feasibility analysis of the comparison of the physician qualification examinations in China and in America.We analyzed the objectives, background, and significance of the study. Part II: The theoretical base of physician qualification examination.Based on the reviews of the pertinent literatures, we analyzed the related theory of tests and physician qualification examinations, and explicated the different test forms for the physician qualification examination.Part III: Comparative analysis of the physician qualification examinations in China and in AmericaComparison of the physician qualification examination in America revealed that there were disadvantages in contents, methods, forms, and management of physician qualification examination in China, which should be improved.Part IV: Investigation and study We designed the questionnaire, and analyzed the result.Part V: Suggestions for the reforms of physician qualification examination in ChinaAfter consultation of the disadvantages by the related experts, informative suggestions were obtained.The physician qualification examination plays an important role in the construction of qualified and competent physician group. This study has provided the fundamental proof for the reforms of physician qualification examination in China.