Exploring the Ontological Status of the Race Concept as Perceived by Korean Medical Students

Hyo Hyun Yoo,Sein Shin,Jun-Ki Lee

doi:10.29333/ejmste/92288

Abstract

This study explored Korean medical students’ perceptions of race from three perspectives: the definition of race, its biological reality, and the practical use of race information in medicine. Using three open-ended survey questions, we collected data from 506 Korean medical students. The data were analyzed through constant comparative analysis. We found diverse perceptions of race held by the students, which were similar to racial concepts that have emerged throughout the history of science. In addition, some students perceived race as a biological reality based on genetics and epidemiology. Lastly, 50.5% of students agreed to the use of the concept of race in the field of medicine for convenience, while the remainder disagreed with its use based on reasons such as racism, multi-culturalism, etc. Based on the results of this study, we suggest the development of an integrated educational program to increase students’ understanding of race based on biology, culture, and ethics.

Highlights

This study explored Korean medical students’ perceptions of race from three perspectives: the definition of race, its biological reality, and the practical use of race information in medicine
We found diverse perceptions of race held by the students, which were similar to racial concepts that have emerged throughout the history of science
The concept of race is a basic concept in biology and medicine, and it is an essential concept that medical students should form through everyday experience in addition to formal education

Summary

Introduction

This study explored Korean medical students’ perceptions of race from three perspectives: the definition of race, its biological reality, and the practical use of race information in medicine. Multinational pharmaceutical companies, and the field of pharmacogenomics have repeatedly argued that there is a scientific basis for the biological substance of race. Scholars believe that these claims are closely related to the illusion of a new market for race-specific medicines and bio-medical patents (Morris, 2011). Race-related situations, like the real-world problems studied in the SSI approach, seem intuitively simple, but they should be considered in terms of various points of view and domains; there may be complexity involved that is affected by the same initial sensitivity of the issue (Jacobson & Wilensky, 2006)

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