Student Questionnaire Survey of an On-Campus Alternative Training Replacing External Clinical Early Exposure Training Cancelled Due to the Spread of COVID-19 Infection (Second Report): Introduction of Communication Exercises Using the World Cafe Method

[Purpose] The educational effects of an on campus alternative training program conducted for first-year students in FY2022 which replaced clinical early exposure training, due to the spread of COVID-19 infection, were verified and compared with the results of FY2021, previously reported in our first report. [Participants and Methods] The study targeted first-year students in a physical therapy department in the 2022 academic year. Alternative training consisted of guidance from external instructors and school teachers. A new communication training using the world cafe method, which was not conducted in the 2021 study, was introduced, and learning achievement was investigated by questionnaire and compared with the results of the 2021 study. [Results] The simple 7-point Likert Scale showed that all items received positive responses. In the tally of frequently used words, “communication” was selected more often in 2022. [Conclusion] The alternative training that introduced a communication exercise was effective to some extent.