The teaching and learning of undergraduate psychiatry in UK and Eire medical schools Dr Nisha Dogra Senior Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Greenwood Institute of Child Health Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry Ruth Edwards Khalid Karim

Structure of presentation Aims Method Data collection tools

Project personnel Nisha Dogra – lead Ruth Edwards – research associate Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry – funded project and some members provided review/comment of tools and methods

Project aims To establish the current content, delivery and outcomes of the undergraduate psychiatry curricula in UK and medical schools. To establish the views of stakeholders regarding the teaching and learning of undergraduate psychiatry

Method Two stages: Survey of all UK and Eire medical schools Semi-structured interviews with educational leads for psychiatry at most UK medical schools and other key personnel Then additional funding obtained for: Focus groups with service users and carers

Why several approaches? Stage 1 – helped answer what is actually happening Stage 2 – what do teachers and psychiatrists think should be taught Stage 3 – what do service users think should be taught Student perspective missing

Stage 1 Questionnaire survey Developed based on previous survey regarding the teaching of diversity (Dogra et al, 2005)

Short Telephone interviews Focused on their views Audiotaped and later transcribed Stage 2

4 focus groups (Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln and Nottingham) Schedule sent for review beforehand Stage 3

Year 311.5% Year 434.6% Year57.7% Integrated46.2% Key findings from survey - When is psychiatry taught?

Child psychiatry53.8% Forensic psychiatry42.3 Liaison Psychiatry50.0 Old age psychiatry80.8 Learning disability76.9 Substance misuse 80.8 Key findings from survey - Subspecialties

Clinical academics92.2% NHS psychiatrists100 GPs57.7 Non clinical staff80.8 PBL tutors23.1 Communication experts19.2 Psychologists23.1 Other NHS staff100 Key findings from survey – who teaches

History taking88.5% Mental State Examination88.5 Risk assessment88.5 Mental health Act80.8 Key findings from survey – what is taught?

Mood disorders73.1% Anxiety84.6 Schizophrenia84.6 Dementia92.3 Eating disorders69.2 Self Harm46.2 Personality disorders38.0 Key findings from survey – what is taught?

Lectures100% Workshops57.7 Small groups84.6 Case learning80.8 Clinical placement100 Community placement69.2 Private study34.6 Tutorials42.3 Seminars50.0 Key findings from survey – what teaching methods are used?

Essay15.4% Project34.6 SAQs42.3 MCQs57.7 Case based problem61.5 OSCE76.9 Portfolio42.3 Self assessment3.8 OSLERS23.1 Key findings from survey – what assessment methods are used?

Some consistency but also a lot of variation Better consistency than diversity teaching Integration not always easy or clear Key findings from survey

Few staff felt supported Little contact with faculty Curriculum design and delivery – huge variability Few staff felt mental health was a priority (often undermined) Stigma of subject Few staff felt that teaching of medical students was a priority or that it was valued Networks to share ideas would be valued Support from professional bodies Key findings from qualitative interviews with staff

To date early indicators are that want: Focus to be on people orientation Listening skills Seeing people as a whole Stigma towards mental illness Key findings from focus groups

Peer reviewed publications Project report Dissemination Day Outcomes of project

Disseminate the findings of a questionnaire survey of what is currently being taught about psychiatry to medical students in the UK Disseminate the findings of a qualitative study on what staff teaching psychiatry and users think should be taught about psychiatry to medical students in the UK Highlight the difficulties that teachers in psychiatry face and identify possible solutions to these difficulties Debate the merits of a teaching support network and guidelines to inform psychiatric education to medical students Dissemination day

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of the teaching of psychiatry to medical students in the UK and Eire The issues identified through the qualitative research with teachers and users User perspective on future developments Student perspectives Workshop Feedback from the workshops How does what we have discussed fit in with other developments? Break Future work and summary Contents

Workshops Suggested workshops: Practical Teaching Issues for Teachers Integrating psychiatry into the wider curriculum Support for teaching – the role of the GMC, Royal College and the AUTP