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. 2020 Apr 25;42(3):299-303.
doi: 10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_251_19. eCollection 2020 May-Jun.

A Survey among Teachers of Psychiatry to Improve the Quality of Undergraduate Training: Outcomes from Karnataka

M Kishor  1 , Ashok V Mysore  2 , Mohan K Isaac  3 , H R Vinay  4 , K Kiran Kumar  5
Affiliations

A Survey among Teachers of Psychiatry to Improve the Quality of Undergraduate Training: Outcomes from Karnataka

M Kishor et al. Indian J Psychol Med. .

Abstract

Background: In India, there is a large gap between the mental health morbidity in society and the availability of psychiatrists. However, the latest Indian undergraduate medical curriculum does not require any competency in psychiatry to be fulfilled for certification of medical graduates as doctors. Thus, the role of Indian psychiatry teachers is quite challenging. Interestingly, there has been hardly any effort to understand the felt needs of psychiatry teachers that may further improve the quality of undergraduate training.

Methods: We used a survey questionnaire that was both qualitative and quantitative, with questions on topics such as years of psychiatry training and experience as a psychiatry teacher. Do they feel the need for training in undergraduate psychiatry teaching? Do they require training in teaching psychiatry theory or clinics or both? What are the specific areas where they want training? What more should be planned for psychiatry teachers? Based on an online survey further steps in the direction of psychiatry teachers felt needs were initiated.

Results: Around 55 responses with a response rate of 37% were received. More than 50% were working in medical colleges for the last 5 years. About 80% felt the need for further training to teach medical students while 97% felt that additional training is required for handling theory as well as bedside clinic. More than 60% were keen to attend a 1-day workshop to upgrade their teaching skills. A majority wanted to have a forum to share their experiences and to learn from others. Based on the felt needs of psychiatry teachers from the survey, a 1-day workshop was carried out and a forum for psychiatry teachers was inaugurated.

Conclusion: Training of psychiatry teachers is an important felt need for the challenges that are unique to Indian medical education. The outcome from the Karnataka survey is a progressive step in addressing this challenge.

Keywords: Indian teachers of psychiatry; Training in teaching undergraduate theory and clinics is a felt need of teachers of psychiatry and a forum of teachers to foster more interactions is thereby needed to empower them to handle challenges that are unique to Indian medical education.; teaching skills; undergraduate medical education.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Psychiatry teacher's years of psychiatry training
Figure 2
Figure 2
Psychiatry teacher's years of experience as a faculty
Figure 3
Figure 3
Felt need of psychiatry teachers for training in undergraduate teaching
Figure 4
Figure 4
Felt need of psychiatry teachers for training in undergraduate theory and clinics
Figure 5
Figure 5
Psychiatry teacher's interest in attending a 1-day workshop for teaching skills
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Medical Council of India. List of Medical Colleges. [Last accessed on 2019 Jun 05]. Available from: https://wwwmciindiaorg/CMS/information-desk/college-and-course-search .
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