Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Undergraduate Child Psychiatry Teaching in Melbourne, Australia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Academic Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The teaching of child psychiatry in Australian medical schools is under review: the content, the placement of the field within medical curricula, and the appropriate teaching and learning methods are all contested. The authors developed a 1-day program in the 9-week child and adolescent health course conducted in the final two semesters of the medical degree at the University of Melbourne and conducted a systematic evaluation of learning outcomes. The program facilitates a group process that draws students to reflect on the role of the doctor and his or her relationship with the patient — child, adolescent, family, and peers.

Methods

Questionnaires were administered before and after the program to assess students’ learning, and end-of-day and end-of-term questionnaires were used to obtain feedback from students.

Results

The assessment of students’ knowledge of key topics in child psychiatry immediately prior to and following the teaching day showed notable improvement on most measures. The surveys showed that the majority of students considered the day a worthwhile and useful part of their course, including a positive response to the role plays.

Conclusion

The sound pedagogical base and successful iterative development of the program has been confirmed by the immediate improvement in students’ knowledge. The findings are relevant to academic psychiatrists, medical course designers, and medical educators seeking insights into teaching undergraduate child psychiatry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gough J, Marks M, McCallum Z: Connecting passions: medical students and teachers in pediatrics. Med Teach 2006; 28:198–199

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ewen S, Gough J: Evaluation of indigenous child health teaching and learning: improving health outcomes? Focus on Health Professional Education 2007; 9:3–32

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sawyer M, Giesen F: Undergraduate teaching of child and adolescent psychiatry in Australia: survey of current practice. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2007; 41:675–681

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Sawyer M, Gifford M, Giesen F, et al: Child psychiatry curricula in undergraduate medical education. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2008; 47:139–147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wigney T, Parker G: Medical student observations on a career in psychiatry. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2007; 41:726–731

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kaplan J, Lake M: Exposing medical students to child and adolescent psychiatry: a case-based seminar. Acad Psychiatry 2008; 32:362–365

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dobson B: Child and adolescent psychiatry in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Med Educ 1988; 22:301–307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sawyer MG, Kosky RJ, Graetz BW, et al: The National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: the child and adolescent component. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2000; 34:214–220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Vance ALA, Luk ESL: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: progress and controversies. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2000; 34:719–730

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Vance ALA, Luk SL: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety: is there an association with neurodevelopmental deficits? Aust N Z J Psychiatry 1998; 32:650–657

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Vance A, Arduca Y, Sanders M, et al: ADHD, combined type, dysthymic disorder and anxiety disorders: differential patterns of neurodevelopmental deficits. Psychiatry Res 2006; 143:213–222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cooke M, Irby D, Sullivan W, et al: American medical education 100 years after the Flexner Report. N Engl J Med 2006; 355:1339–1375

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. McParland M, Noble L, Livingston G, et al: The effect of a psychiatric attachment on students’ attitudes to and intention to pursue psychiatry as a career. Med Educ 2003; 37:447–454

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Owen J: Program Evaluation: Forms and Approaches, 3rd ed. Crows Nest, NSW, Allen and Unwin, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  15. Goldie J: AMEE education guide number 29: evaluating educational programmes. Med Teach 2006; 28:210–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Shaw N: Ethics and evaluating educational programmes. Med Teach 2007; 29:66

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. University of Melbourne: Melbourne Research Human Ethics. Available at www.research.unimelb.edu.au/humanethics/home

  18. Vance A, Silk T, Casey M, et al: Right parietal dysfunction in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type: a functional MRI study. Mol Psychiatry 2007; 12:826–832

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Vance ALA: ADHD: towards an innovative developmental model. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2002; 36:485–487

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Royal Children’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, 4th Floor, Front Building, Flemington Rd., Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    Jenny K. Gough Dip.Ed., M.Ed., Zoë McCallum F.R.A.C.P., M.B.B.S., Catherine Bevan MRCPCH(UK), M.B.B.S. & Alasdair Vance FRANZCP(UK), M.B.B.S., M.D., M.Med.

  2. Junior Medical Staff, Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia

    Jenny K. Gough Dip.Ed., M.Ed.

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia

    Zoë McCallum F.R.A.C.P., M.B.B.S.

  4. Emergency Department, Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia

    Catherine Bevan MRCPCH(UK), M.B.B.S.

  5. Department of Mental Health, Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia

    Alasdair Vance FRANZCP(UK), M.B.B.S., M.D., M.Med.

Authors
  1. Jenny K. Gough Dip.Ed., M.Ed.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zoë McCallum F.R.A.C.P., M.B.B.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Catherine Bevan MRCPCH(UK), M.B.B.S.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alasdair Vance FRANZCP(UK), M.B.B.S., M.D., M.Med.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jenny K. Gough Dip.Ed., M.Ed..

Additional information

At the time of submission, the authors reported no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gough, J.K., McCallum, Z., Bevan, C. et al. Undergraduate Child Psychiatry Teaching in Melbourne, Australia. Acad Psychiatry 34, 190–194 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.34.3.190

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.34.3.190

Keywords

Search

Navigation