Training Directors' and Registrars' Views on Research Training in Australasian Psychiatry

Abstract

Objective: To determine to what extent research skills are taught and how they are taught to psychiatrists-in-training across Australasia. Method: Anonymous mail-out survey of training directors and trainee representatives on local training committees. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 20 of 23 directors (response rate = 87%) who reported on 522 trainee psychiatrists. Formal seminars or lectures and journal clubs were the most commonly adopted methods of teaching (90% and 70% of programs respectively) while only two programs formally required trainees' participation in research. Epidemiologi-cal research methods, critical appraisal skills, ethical issues, and research design were the topics most commonly taught formally, and these were taught in 80% of programs or less. Only 33 (6.3%) trainees were involved in a research project that involved data collection. Conclusions: Research skills were rather uniformly taught. The results are discussed in relation to identified areas for improvement.