Analysis of Research Trends in the Korean Journal of Medical Education and Korean Medical Education Review Using Keyword Network Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the research trends in articles published in the Korean Journal of Medical Education (KJME) and Korean Medical Education Review (KMER) using keyword network analysis. The analyses included 507 papers from 2010 to 2019 published in KJME and KMER. First, keyword frequency analysis showed that the research topics that appeared in both journals were “medical student,” “curriculum,” “clinical clerkship,” and “undergraduate medical education.” Second, centrality analysis of a network map of the keywords identified “curriculum” and “medical student” as highly important research topics in both journals. Third, a cluster analysis of 20 core keywords in KMER identified research clusters related to academic motivation, achievement, educational measurement, medical competence, and clinical practice (centered on “learning,” while in KJME, clusters were related to educational method and program evaluation, medical competence, and clinical practice (centered on “teaching”). In conclusion, future medical education research needs to expand to encompass other research areas, such as educational methods, student evaluations, the educational environment, student counseling, and curriculum.