Before and after: Effect of 4-week psychiatry attachment on medical students’ attitude to psychiatry as a career choice

Abstract

BackgroundPsychiatry is historically unpopular amongst medical students. The perception that psychiatry is remote from the rest of medicine and not evidence-based has been identified. However, there is evidence that psychiatry placement has positive effects on students. There are reports that medical students experience a positive change of attitude towards psychiatry following their undergraduate psychiatric attachment. There is evidence that medical students experience a positive change of attitude towards psychiatry following their undergraduate psychiatric attachment.AimTo determine the effect of a four-week psychiatry placement on 3rd year medical students’ attitudes towards psychiatry.MethodsPre-and post-attachment questionnaires were administered to four cohorts of 3rd year students. Responses were anonymised and based on Yes/No, free-text, order of preference and Likert scale. Analysis was by basic statistical methods.ResultsA total of 98 pre- and 81 post-placement students responded. Mean positive attitude increased by 6% and the percentage of students choosing psychiatry in their top three career choices increased from 7 to 20%. Ninety percent of students post-attachment thought that psychiatry is relevant to their future jobs, compared to 86% pre-attachment. The percentage of students who think that psychiatry makes little use of medical training decreased from 20% to 16%.ConclusionsThe survey showed a period of 4 weeks psychiatry placement has a positive effect on the attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry. It also increases the number of students wanting to pursue a career in psychiatry.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.