[Usefulness of small group discussion using KJ method regarding early exposure for first-year pharmaceutical science students].

We evaluated the usefulness of small group discussion using the KJ method (KJ-SGD) in regards to early exposure for first-year pharmaceutical science students. Fourteen students were divided into 3 groups. They were asked to discuss the societal role of pharmaceutical science faculty members and then write the results of their discussion. Thereafter, each of the groups presented the contents of their written results to all of the students. Discussion sessions were held on two separate occasions, the first prior to early exposure and the second after early exposure. After receiving early exposure, the students were asked to revise their previous written results. Further, a questionnaire was given to the students following each discussion session, which revealed that more than 92% understood the KJ-SGD method and most answered that it was useful. In addition, all answered that their perceptions were changed after early exposure. Our findings showed that KJ-SGD was useful and that the students were able to effectively understand the contents following early exposure.