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Examination of Medical Students’ Expectations of Psychiatry Prior to Placement: A Qualitative Study
- Isabel Mark, Georgina Edgerley-Harris, Julia Hutchinson, Aileen O'Brien
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, pp. S19-S20
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Aims
There is limited literature regarding medical students’ expectations of psychiatry placements, although studies focussing on nursing students reveal fear and anticipation of aggression and violence to be prominent factors. Anecdotally, authors have been aware of medical students having reported impressions of psychiatric wards which were at odds with the reality. This study aims to explore what medical students specifically imagine and expect from psychiatric wards and psychiatric intensive care units prior to their placement. Psychiatric intensive care, arguably the most intense experience students will have in psychiatry, was used as a specific focus to highlight the full extent of their preconceptions.
MethodsStudents undertaking their psychiatry attachment between July and December 2021 were invited to complete a semi-structured questionnaire, deemed to be more preferable to interviews as it was thought that anonymity would encourage more students to participate, provide open and honest responses, thereby exposing the full scope of presumptions. Question content was designed by 2 psychiatrists, with modifications after consultation with 2 student advisors. Questions explored student emotions regarding their visits to psychiatric wards and psychiatric intensive care, as well as expectations of the ward atmosphere, layout, activities, where patients would be, what they would be doing and how they would be managed. 37 responses were received. Analysis followed the well-recognised six stages of thematic analysis. Two authors read and coded all text independently, before discussing any discrepancies and then defining and refining themes with involvement from all authors, in a process of several reviews.
ResultsFive themes emerged from the data: 1) Mixed feelings about the placement (with anxiety being prominent), 2) Mixed views about patient behaviour with many assumed to be violent, 3) Caring and holistic-minded staff, 4) A restrictive and locked environment, 5) Assumed similarities to acute general hospital care. Some of the expectations of students were markedly different to the realities of psychiatric inpatient and intensive settings, with students reporting ideas of patients in locked rooms, physically restrained, sedated and attached to ventilators.
ConclusionThis study offers a unique insight into what medical students expect from their psychiatry placement, a key issue of which all educators and clinicians who supervise students should be aware. Results can inform better student preparation and placement supervision, leading to more meaningful learning and improved well-being.
Co-Production of an Online Medical Student Conference: Inspiring Interest in Psychiatry
- Georgina Edgerley Harris, Sonya Rudra, Rachel Swain, Abigail Swerdlow
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S36
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Aims
The aim of this project was to create a Pan-London event to increase awareness and enthusiasm of medical students for Psychiatry as a specialty. In addition to a longer term goal of ultimately increasing recruitment to the specialty once students qualify, this event aimed to bring Mental Health to the forefront of the minds of future doctors.
MethodsPsychiatry Teaching Fellows from different trusts created a virtual educational event targeted at medical students in all years across London universities. It was co-produced with the student Psychiatry Societies across the London Universities. This encouraged student engagement from the ground level and fostered an environment of collaboration between students and Doctors. The event was free to attend and was supported by the Royal College of Psychiatry, London Division. The conference programme showcased the various facets Psychiatry has to offer from a global perspective, including Women's Mental Health, Forensic Psychiatry, research and volunteering around the world.
ResultsThe conference welcomed 263 attendees. 92 of the attendees completed a feedback questionnaire at the end of the session. The majority of respondents were from London universities and fairly evenly distributed amongst medical school year groups. 99% of those completing the questionnaire found the session interesting (scoring 3 or more out of 5 on a 5 point Likert scale). 98% of respondents reported that they found the session widened their view of Psychiatry. 78% were already considering a career in Psychiatry. 96% felt more likely to pursue a career in Psychiatry following the conference (scoring 3 or more out of 5 on a 5 point Likert scale). Open-text feedback indicated that attendees had found the sessions interesting and particularly valued the range of topics.
ConclusionExtra-curricular events are a fantastic chance to broaden medical students’ views of the specialty of Psychiatry. A virtual platform creates opportunities for audiences to hear from a vast array of expert speakers, which might not otherwise be possible in person, and creates a community of like-minded students in a safe environment. Whether or not students go on to pursue the field themselves later on in their training, events such as this bring awareness of Psychiatry and its impacts to the foreground. It is hoped that, in future, further co-produced events between the Royal College of Psychiatry and university Psychiatry societies, can continue to inspire medical students.