We evaluated the practical education of 5^th grader medical students at a regional blood center concerning various aspects of blood transfusion.
Practical education consisted of observation of voluntary blood donation, assistance in publicity of blood donation center, learning how to collect and prepare various blood products free of contami nation with infectious agents, contamination, performing blood typing as well as cross-matching and viewing short video lectures to avoid blood transfusion mismatches. The program has begun from 1987. Fifth grader students were surveyed to determine the effectiveness of this program at the end of the school year. Most students responded that they had improved their understanding of blood transfusion; in particular, they realized that blood products are obtained through the combined big efforts of volunteer donors and blood center workers. They also recognized that, as future doctors, they must minimize the use of blood products to avoid possible adverse side effects and also to ensure self-sufficiency of blood products in Japan. The level of understanding achieved through this practical program in the 5^th grader was markedly better than that achieved by lectures to students in the first 3^rd grader of medical school.