How Can we Recruit Future Geriatric Psychiatrists? Findings from a Canada-wide Survey of Psychiatry Residents

Abstract

Introduction: Despite an impending “silver tsunami”, there remains a shortage of geriatric psychiatrists throughout the world. The factors associated with psychiatric residents’ interest in geriatric psychiatry have not yet been examined in a nationallyrepresentative sample. Methods: This was an online survey of 226 Canadian psychiatry residents (24.3% response rate). The main outcome was interest in becoming a geriatric psychiatrist. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to better understand what demographic, educational, and vocational variables were associated with interest in becoming a geriatric psychiatrist. Results: A number of respondents had an interest in becoming a geriatric psychiatrist (29.0%, n1⁄460); in doing a geriatric psychiatry fellowship (20.3 %, n1⁄442); or an interest in doing geriatric psychiatry as a part of the clinical practice (60.0%, n1⁄4124). Demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity) did not correlate with interest in geriatric psychiatry. The variables most robustly associated with interest in geriatric psychiatry were: 1) completion of geriatric psychiatry rotation(s) before 3rd year of residency (OR 5.13 [95%CI: 1.23-21.4]); 2) comfort working with geriatric patients and their families (OR 18.6 [95%CI: 2.09-165.3]); 3) positive experiences caring for older adults prior to medical school (OR 12.4 [95%CI: 1.07-144.5]); and 4) the presence of annual conferences in the resident’s field of interest (OR 4.50 [95%CI: 1.12-18.2]). Conclusions: Exposing medical students and junior psychiatry residents to clinical geriatric psychiatry rotations that increase comfort in working with older adults may help improve recruitment of geriatric psychiatrists. In this poster, we explore potential ways of implementing these findings in a future randomized medical education intervention trial in medical students.