Aims and method Summer schools are advocated as part of the national recruitment initiative despite little evidence of their impact. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 3-day non-clinical initiative. Change in attitudes and career intention were measured by administering a questionnaire, which included the 30-item Attitudes Toward Psychiatry (ATP-30) survey, at the start and end of the event. Results Mean ATP-30 scores increased from 119 to 128, which represented a highly statistically significant change (t = 5.40, d.f. = 18, P50.001). A positive shift in intention to pursue psychiatry as a career was demonstrated. Clinical implications These results suggest well-planned summer schools can have a significant impact on students' attitudes. Despite high initial ATP-30 scores a positive shift in attitudes and career intentions was still seen. Further evaluation of the longitudinal impact is needed. Events such as this are important and likely produce a cumulative effect alongside other recruitment strategies.
CITATION STYLE
Beattie, S., Lister, C., Khan, J. M., & Cornwall, P. L. (2013). Effectiveness of a summer school in influencing medical students’ attitudes towards psychiatry. Psychiatrist, 37(11), 367–371. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.113.043513
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