Setting Common Standards for Reproductive Psychiatry Education: Effectiveness of the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry

Courtney Erdly, Semra Etyemez, Lindsay R. Standeven, Sarah Nagle-Yang, Lauren M. Osborne

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: The National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP) provides standardized education for psychiatry residency training programs. The authors hypothesized that residents’ preparedness to treat reproductive psychiatric concerns and their medical knowledge would improve following teaching with the NCRP. Methods: Pre- and post-assessments were administered to residents enrolled in two waves of pilot NCRP training (Early-Modules and All-Modules). Data were collected by individual survey, and pre- and post-responses matched via anonymous ID. Statistical analyses were conducted using R version 3.5.3 and included paired Student’s t-tests and a chi-square test. Results: Thirty-eight residents completed the Early-Modules survey and 16 the All-Modules survey. In both groups, there was significant improvement in preparedness to treat pregnant and postpartum women with mental illness (p<0.05). Scores on the 29-point knowledge test rose by 2.5 points in the Early-Modules group and 4.3 points in the All-Modules group (p<0.001 for both). In both cohorts, a majority of residents felt reproductive psychiatry was among the top three specialties needed to become competent independent adult psychiatrists. Conclusions: Classroom training with local faculty using a standardized curriculum is feasible and results in substantial and significant improvements in both feelings of preparedness and medical knowledge. Psychiatry trainees view training in reproductive psychiatry as an important and missing aspect of their education. Dissemination of a standardized curriculum may help to forge a path toward subspecialty certification for reproductive psychiatry, and can be used as a model for other specialties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)63-68
Number of pages6
JournalAcademic Psychiatry
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2023

Keywords

  • Reproductive psychiatry
  • Resident education
  • Women’s mental health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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