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EXPERIENCE OF PSYCHIATRY TEACHING AT MEDICAL SCHOOL INFLUENCES CROATIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS CHOOSING PSYCHIATRY AS A CAREER

Martina Rojnic Kuzman ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Petra Lovrec ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mia Smoljan ; University Hospital Centre “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Kuzman ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Kitty Farooq ; Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK
Greg Lydall ; Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK, Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
Amit Malik ; Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK
Dinesh Bhugra ; Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK

Abstract

Background: Reports indicate that the number of students interested in choosing psychiatry as their future profession is
constantly decreasing in the last decades. Our aim was to determine the proportion of medical students intending to pursue a career
in psychiatry and to define undergraduate education-related factors influencing that choice.
Subjects and methods: We report the preliminary findings of a cross sectional quantitative survey of final year Croatian medical
students as part of the International Survey Of Student Career Choice In Psychiatry (ISOSCCIP). We surveyed medical students
attending their final year at Zagreb School of Medicine in the academic year 2009/2010, using a structured questionnaire examining
demographics, students' preferences on future career choice and their evaluations of undergraduate psychiatry teaching.
Results: The overall student evaluation of the compulsory psychiatry curriculum was “average”. Significantly higher ratings
were reported by students who felt more involved in the teaching of the subject. The possibility of psychiatry as a career choice
correlated significantly with better evaluation grades of psychiatry lectures. Furthermore, poor evaluation grades predicted a higher
likelihood that medical students completely ruled out choosing a career in psychiatry.
Conclusion: This is the first survey of this kind in Croatia. Student ratings of medical school psychiatric education and perceived
involvement in teaching appears to influence the likelihood of a stated career in psychiatry. Addressing these issues may increase the
number of students motivated to pursue psychiatry as their future career choice.

Keywords

psychiatry – education – students – Croatia - curriculum

Hrčak ID:

161181

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161181

Publication date:

10.6.2013.

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