Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Sajid, A. Articles by Ali, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Sajid, A. Articles by Ali, A.

The Effect of Clinical Clerkship on Students’ Attitudes Toward Psychiatry in Karachi, Pakistan

Received August 8, 2007; revised November 12 and December 19, 2007, and January 16, 2008; accepted January 28, 2008. Drs. Sajid, Khan, Shakir, and Moazam-Zaman are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University; Dr. Asad is affiliated with Shifa Hospital, Karachi. Address correspondence to Dr. Murad M Khan, Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, Stadium Rd., PO Box 3500, Karachi 74800, PAKISTAN; murad.khan{at}aku.edu (e-mail).

OBJECTIVE: Attitudes of medical students toward a specialty is strongly related to their future choice of specialty. In developing countries like Pakistan, where there is a shortage of psychiatrists, there is a need to assess the effect of exposure to psychiatry on medical students. METHODS: The authors conducted a survey of fourth-year medical students at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. RESULTS: Psychiatry clerkship had an overall positive attitude toward psychiatric illness, patients, and psychiatrists, but no effect on students’ choice of psychiatry as a career. CONCLUSION: Psychiatry teaching needs to be made more relevant to the rest of the medical curricula. This may improve students’ interest and their future choice of psychiatry as an area of specialization.

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 Academic Psychiatry. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us