Kyoto, Japan -- For people with medical conditions, stigma is a real problem they must worry about on top of their health. Stereotypes about health conditions often cause discrimination even by healthcare providers, as many may assume those affected don't take care of their health, when in reality they likely have no control over their condition.

Diabetes affects nearly ten percent of the global adult population and causes almost two million deaths per year, yet the persistent stigma surrounding people with the disease is a global concern. Physicians may act as inadvertent perpetrators, but their level of awareness is still poorly understood.

To address this, it is essential to gauge the level of awareness of a diabetes stigma among future physicians and identify the need for strategic interventions in medical education. This approach motivated a team of researchers at Kyoto University to first assess awareness of stigma and advocacy among medical students in Japan.

Feedback is central to teacher education, yet little is known about how it can be delivered in real-time. A new study of language teacher education in Japan and South Korea shows how educators transform feedback into “reflect-ables”: concrete moments from microteaching that prompt reflection and guide professional growth. The researchers, using conversation analysis, demonstrate how feedback practices not only help assess teaching but also create opportunities for developing classroom interactional competence.