Abstract
Objective
To assess pediatric residency program director (PD) perceptions of the current state
of mental health (MH) training, their receptivity to curricular changes, and perceptions
of their residents' knowledge and skills in MH care.
Methods
We performed a cross-sectional study utilizing a Web-based survey of pediatric residency
PDs to assess program characteristics, learning modalities PDs currently had or would
implement, and their knowledge of the new American Academy of Pediatrics' MH competencies.
PDs then ranked their residents' knowledge and skills for 29 MH competencies. Analyses
included descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate analyses to assess
for associations between variables, particularly MH model of care and perceived competence.
Results
Ninety-nine PDs (51%) responded. A total of 87% of PDs reported that MH care was taught
as part of another rotation, yet PDs were receptive to curricular changes. Only 45%
of PDs were aware of the 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics competencies, and PDs
infrequently rated their residents' MH skills and knowledge to be above average. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) was an exception: 64% reported above-average ADHD knowledge in diagnoses
and 57% in treatment. There was an association between enhanced MH services in continuity
clinics and perceived resident systems-based practice (P < .01) and medical knowledge (P = .04).
Conclusions
PDs acknowledged that MH training is not emphasized, leading to deficiencies in their
residents' knowledge and skills in MH care. The receptivity of PDs suggests the need
for targeted dissemination of national guidelines or curriculum. Integrated models
of care may be one way to improve resident competencies, but this deserves further
study.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 26,
2014
Received:
September 23,
2013
Footnotes
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
