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Medical Students’ Perceptions of Child Psychiatry: Pre- and Post-Psychiatry Clerkship

Received October 29, 2004; revised January 21, 2005; accepted February 15, 2005. Dr. Martin is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia. Dr. Bennett is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Ms. Pitale is a graduate student in clinical psychology at Widener University. Address correspondence to Dr. Martin, 3900 City Ave., Suite 112, Philadelphia 19131; Vicki.Martin{at}phila.gov (E-mail). Copyright © 2005 Academic Psychiatry.

OBJECTIVE: The U.S. is facing a severe shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAPs). While medical students have been relatively disinterested in psychiatry, little research has examined their perceptions of CAP. The present study examined student perceptions of CAP and general psychiatry, and whether these perceptions changed during the psychiatry clerkship. METHODS: Students completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of CAP and general psychiatry as a career choice on the first and last day of their clerkship. RESULTS: The opportunity to help children was most frequently perceived to be a positive aspect of CAP. The most frequently reported negative aspects were that CAP is emotionally stressful, a perception that decreased during the clerkship, and that there is a lack of family/societal support for children, a perception that increased during the clerkship. More students reported that CAP is respected compared to general psychiatry. Students estimated CAP salaries to be higher than general psychiatry salaries, but only at the end of the clerkship. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for the recruitment of medical students into CAP are discussed, including the potential importance of exposing students to diverse patient populations and requiring a CAP experience during the clerkship.

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