General psychiatry residents' perceptions of specialized training in the field of mental retardation.
This study examined the perceptions of general psychiatry residents about the utility of specialized training that they received on an inpatient unit for patients with mental retardation and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. An anonymous questionnaire was sent to 58 former and current residents, and 43 questionnaires were returned. Views about the educational components of the training program were rated by Likert scale. A total of 98 percent of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that training was useful. Most respondents (56 percent) rated the training as sufficient preparation to treat patients with mental retardation; 84 percent reported that the training should be required during psychiatric residencies. Psychiatry residents were very satisfied with their specialized educational experience and found it to be a valuable component of their training.
New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, NBV-21 South 6, New York, NY 10016, USA. spreinblatt@hotmail.com
Shauna Pencer
SP
Reinblatt
Arthur
A
Rifkin
F Xavier
FX
Castellanos
Barbara J
BJ
Coffey
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000628:therapy*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009519:New York City; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires