Medical Students' Interest in Child Psychiatry: A Clerkship Intervention

Abstract

A brief presentation can be effective in changing certain factual perceptions about child and adolescent psychiatry but may be ineffective in enhancing medical students' interest in it. However, exposure to child patients during the clerkship may prevent a decline in student interest in the field.

WPA guidance on how to combat stigmatization of psychiatry and psychiatrists

“…Financial aspects, such as low pay 49,87,92,99,106,107,109,116,121,122,123,124 and lack of government funding 103,125,126,127,128,129, also play a role in forming the image of psychiatry as a discipline. These financial drawbacks have an impact on attitudes of medical students in both clinical and research settings.…”

Baptism by conference: an effective Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists recruitment tool?

“…The extent of student interest was positively influenced by having had contact with a psychiatrist and a favourable clinical experience in the field prior to the study. 2 From our personal experiences, it appears that lack of exposure to different areas of psychiatry during medical school serves to restrict student perspectives of the discipline. Several psychiatrists we met at the conference lamented the fact that the typical medical school psychiatric rotation is confined to acute or chronic care within the hospital setting and students rarely gain insight into areas like psychotherapy, neuropsychiatry or have the opportunity to deal with less severely impaired patients -the vast majority.…”

“…The extent of student interest was positively influenced by having had contact with a psychiatrist and a favourable clinical experience in the field prior to the study. 2…”

“…1 Another study examined whether a brief advocacy presentation enhanced student interest in child and adolescent psychiatry as a career choice. 2 Students who attended the presentation were better informed about the specific details relating to the profession; however, their interest in psychiatry as a career choice did not change. The extent of student interest was positively influenced by having had contact with a psychiatrist and a favourable clinical experience in the field prior to the study.…”