A “diversity and inclusion” lecture for promoting self-awareness among medical students

Purpose The concept of ‘diversity and inclusion’ is being adopted worldwide, but it is not yet understood well in Japan. We conducted this study to evaluate the impact of a lecture aimed at increasing awareness of academic careers and the benefits of having diversity and inclusion. Methods Two female surgeons delivered a 120-min lecture on “diversity and inclusion” to third-year medical students at Tokushima University. To assess the impact of the lecture, a questionnaire was distributed, for participants to complete anonymously before and after the lecture. Results Eighty-two students participated in the study (39 men, 38 women, and 5 unknown). Based on the questionnaire responses, 57.1% of the students had already perceived inequality in conduct because of gender. A comparison of pre- and post-lecture responses revealed a significant increase in confidence to succeed in their medical career (56.5% vs. 77.5%, p < 0.01). Learners were more likely to believe that gender would not become a barrier to career development (42.4% vs. 66.7%, p < 0.01). Moreover, 90.4% of the students felt positively about a career in surgery following the lecture. Conclusion The lecture promoted awareness about diversity, self-awareness, and career development and motivated students to consider specializing in surgery later in their career.