scholarly journals Teaching provision for old age psychiatry in medical schools in the UK and Ireland: a survey

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Bennett ◽  
Poppy Ilderton ◽  
John T. O'Brien ◽  
John-Paul Taylor ◽  
Andrew Teodorczuk

Aims and methodThis work builds on a survey first done in 1999 to understand how old age psychiatry teaching is embedded in undergraduate medical schools in the UK and Ireland and the influence of academic old age psychiatrists on teaching processes. We invited deans of 31 medical schools in the UK and Ireland in 2015 to complete an online survey to reassess the situation 16 years later.ResultsResponse rate was 74%. As found in the original survey, there was variation across medical schools in how old age psychiatry is taught. Half of schools stated there was not enough space in the curriculum dedicated to old age psychiatry, and not all medical school curricula offered a clinical attachment. Medical schools that involved academic old age psychiatrists in teaching (59%) showed a greater diversity of teaching methods.Clinical implicationsThere is a need to recognise the importance of old age psychiatry teaching, with the consensus of opinion continuing to be that more curriculum space needs to be given to old age psychiatry. To achieve this we advocate increasing the number of old age psychiatrists with teaching roles, as relying on academics to teach and lead on curriculum development is challenging given their greater research pressures.

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lindesay ◽  
C. Katona ◽  
R. Prettyman ◽  
J. Warner

Aims and MethodThis paper reports the findings of a 1999 survey of academic old age psychiatry staffing and teaching in UK and Irish medical schools.ResultsJust over half had staff established at the level of senior lecturer or above. These schools devoted more time to undergraduate teaching, covered more topics and used a wider range of teaching methods.Clinical ImplicationsThere is a need for further academic development in old age psychiatry to drive the development of the speciality, and to ensure that all medical undergraduates receive an adequate training in this subject area.


2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 471-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Allen ◽  
Rob Butler

AIMS AND METHODSTo undertake a nationwide survey to find out the attitudes of old age specialist registrars (SpRs) towards single and dual training. A questionnaire was sent to all old age SpRs in the UK.ResultsTwo-thirds of SpRs were undergoing dual training. Most trainees favoured a flexible system that offers the choice of single or dual accreditation. Many trainees had concerns about single accreditation. Schemes vary in whether they encourage one type of training or another.Clinical ImplicationsTraining schemes appear to vary unacceptably in their attitudes to training. There needs to be a more consistent approach nationally. Clearer guidance from the College may help.


2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 275-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Okolo ◽  
Laofe O. Ogundipe

Aims and MethodWe explored the views of consultant psychiatrists (trainers and non-trainers) on the effectiveness of the research day. We sent out postal questionnaires to consultant psychiatrists in general adult and old age psychiatry in the West Midlands to evaluate their own experience of the research day and how useful they felt it was.ResultsThe survey had a response rate of 72% (88 out of 122) and the majority of respondents had a positive view of their experience (31 trainers, 60%; 25 non-trainers, 69%). However, more consultant trainers (37, 71%) compared with non-trainers (15, 42%) felt that the research day in its current format should be modified.Clinical ImplicationsThe research day is useful for the training of specialist registrars and our study confirms this view from the consultants surveyed. Some improvement is required in order for specialist registrars to obtain optimal benefit. We make some suggestions for improving the day's effectiveness.


2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 410-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghupathy Paranthaman ◽  
Robert C. Baldwin

Aims and MethodThe aim of the survey was to assess the attitudes of specialists in old age psychiatry towards the use of clozapine in elderly patients. A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 155 consultant old age psychiatrists in England.ResultsThe response rate was 87%. A majority of respondents felt that clozapine had a useful place in the treatment of elderly patients, although they expressed concerns about the lack of published data and about safety and practical difficulties in monitoring. Prescribers of clozapine (n=45) were significantly more positive about its role in treating older patients than those who had not used it.Clinical ImplicationsThe findings suggest that familiarity with and confidence in clozapine and practical difficulties in monitoring are important determinants of its use in older patients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20
Author(s):  
Alison Napier

Aims and MethodA postal questionnaire was circulated to all consultants in old age psychiatry in Wales, examining provision of services with reference to the indicative service levels defined by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of Physicians.ResultsThe response rate was 100%. Levels of staffing and resources overall fell well below recommendations and varied widely between services. The average population over 65 served by a whole time consultant was 22 995; more than twice that recommended. No association was found between morale or how well population needs were perceived as being met, and the size of the population served.Clinical ImplicationsConsiderable investment in staff and other resources is needed for the recommendations made by the royal Colleges concerning service levels and, by implication, service quality to be met.


1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 331-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Wattis ◽  
Andrew MacDonald ◽  
Paul Newton

Aims and methodsWe aimed to update Information on the development of old age psychiatric services using a postal survey of consultants.ResultsThe response rate (51%) was lower than previous surveys in the 1980s. Senior academic appointments showed little increase and academic posts were largely National Health Service (NHS) funded. Services had smaller catchment areas and increased numbers of staff in medicine, nursing and social work, but not in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology. Relative workload was increasing and most services included early-onset dementia. There was a decrease in provision of NHS long-stay beds with only marginal changes in other facilities.Clinical implicationsServices were offering more to patients than previously. Weakness in academic development may cause problems for the future; the results suggested that recruitment in some disciplines may already be problematical. There is a need to develop the role of NHS long-stay facilities.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 130-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mears ◽  
Tim Kendall ◽  
Cornelius Katona ◽  
Carole Pashley ◽  
Sarah Pajak

Aims and MethodThis survey gathered data on the retirement intentions of consultant psychiatrists over the age of 50 years, in order to address retention issues. A questionnaire was sent to all 1438 consultants over this age in the UK.ResultsA total of 848 questionnaires were returned, an adjusted response rate of 59%. The mean age at which consultants intended to retire in this sample was 60 years (s.d. 4.16), suggesting a potential loss of 5725 consultant years. Reasons for early retirement are complex: factors encouraging retirement include too much bureaucracy, lack of free time and heavy case-loads; those discouraging retirement include enjoyment of work, having a good team and money. Mental Health Officer status is an important determinant in the decision to retire early.Clinical ImplicationsWith numerous vacancies in consultant psychiatrist posts throughout the UK, premature retirement is a cause for concern, possibly contributing to an overall reduction in consultant numbers of 5%. Addressing factors that influence consultants' decisions to leave the health service early should form an important part of an overall strategy to increase consultant numbers.


2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Murray ◽  
Robin Jacoby

This article aims to provide a practical overview concentrating on civil legal aspects of psychiatric care for the elderly. We limit ourselves to English law (which also has jurisdiction in Wales; Scottish and Northern Irish law may be similar, but not identical). Civil law can, in turn, be divided into statute law (legislation provided by Parliament) and common law (the UK, unlike some European countries, has a strong tradition of law based on previous rulings by judges).


2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Ellender ◽  
Marlene Drysdale ◽  
Janice Chesters ◽  
Susan Faulkner ◽  
Heather Kelly ◽  
...  

AbstractThis paper investigates reasons Indigenous Australian medical students gave for leaving their courses prior to graduation. Indigenous students who had withdrawn or deferred from their medical courses were asked about the barriers and disincentives that had dissuaded them from graduating. Although the response rate to the questionnaire was very low, it opened up a way of looking at the particular experiences of Indigenous students. Of the 12 responses, the most prominent reason given for withdrawing was financial. Most were satisfied with enrolment processes but a number were disappointed with their courses and with teaching methods. More support from the university was the only encouragement that would have persuaded most respondents to continue. This paper explores the reasons for the high rate of withdrawal of Indigenous medical students and concludes by suggesting ways in which secondary schools, universities and their medical schools could respond to the recruitment and retention of Indigenous medical students.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Simpson ◽  
D. Beavis ◽  
J. Dyer ◽  
S. Ball

Aims and MethodMemory clinics have become very popular in old age psychiatry and there is some pressure for them to be developed in old age services. However, there is little evidence to suggest that they are more advantageous over the traditional domiciliary visits or who should be seen in clinic. This was a naturalistic comparison of 76 consecutive new referrals to a memory clinic, with 74 consecutive new domiciliary requests within the same service over the same period of time. A retrospective case note review collected the clinical features and an 18-month prospective follow-up examined the subsequent clinical management.Clinical ImplicationsThe two groups were characterised more by their similarities than their differences. However, the domiciliary group had greater behavioural and psychological complications. The memory clinic patients were less likely to receive psychotropic medication and here more likely to be followed up.ResultsWe conclude that memory clinics might be less suitable for patients with prominent psychiatric complications. Memory clinics could complement the domiciliary model by providing early psychosocial/neuropsychiatric approaches, although this is likely to lead to an increased clinical case-load.


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