Background Medical care now emphasizes community health, prevention, health promotion, and collaboration. Integrating medical students into community health initiatives enhances their community health and student skills. In an aging multicultural population, the involvement of healthcare professionals in community health management is vital. However, medical education in Japan lacks sufficient exposure to community health issues. A program in Shimane Prefecture aimed to address this gap by revolutionizing medical education through community organizations. Methods This study employed a reflexive thematic analysis based on relativist ontology and constructivist epistemology. Participants aspiring to be healthcare professionals from Japanese high schools and universities were recruited from rural Shimane Prefecture. Computer-based questionnaires were used to collect data on participants' reasons, motivations, and visions for community-organizing education. The thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke's approach and involved systematic coding, theme identification, and refinement. Results Three themes emerged from the analysis. In expanding hopes for unknown potential, participants sought improved communication skills, real-world understandings, and fresh perspectives and aimed to promote personal growth through community engagement. In acquiring activeness and new perspectives through connections with peers, hands-on learning and collaboration with peers with shared interests were motivating factors. Participants sought to generate inquiries and discover their activities. Regarding the desire to connect with diverse individuals driven by a strong curiosity about the community, participants aimed to learn community engagement techniques, understand community involvement methods, and explore the relationship between social issues and health. Conclusion Community-organizing education plays a pivotal role in shaping future healthcare professionals. Our analysis underscores the need for curriculum reform, including experiential learning and peer interaction, to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of health and community dynamics. Future studies should assess the long-term impacts of these experiences on students' careers and community health to contribute to advancements in medical education and community-oriented healthcare professionalism.
Keywords: community engagement; community organizing; curriculum reform; experiential learning; healthcare professionalism; holistic health; medical education; preventive medicine; social determinants of health; student motivation.
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