title: "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference": reflection techniques for addiction psychiatry training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors aim to incorporate educational reflection techniques in an addiction psychiatry postgraduate core rotation in order to increase critical self-awareness of attitudes, values, and beliefs related to working with people with substance use and other addictive disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reflection discussion times, reflection journaling, and mandatory end-of-rotation reflection papers were embedded into a core addiction psychiatry postgraduate training block. Qualitative analysis of 28 reflection papers was performed to determine key factors and constructs that impacted on the development of attitudes and professionalism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of constructs emerged that demonstrated the attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes, and stigmas students have regarding addictive disorders. Some constructs also highlighted that students felt much more comfortable dealing with addictive disorders after the training and would treat individuals with these conditions in a more effective manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reflection techniques were endorsed as extremely valuable by students, especially in the development of professional attitudes that will help clinicians effectively engage and provide appropriate care for individuals suffering from addictive disorders. The authors suggest that reflective practices be used more extensively in psychiatric training in order to build and establish reflexive self-awareness as a core professional competence essential to work effectively in clinical practice, especially in the most demanding contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S1, Canada. bruce_ballon@camh.net
authors.forename: Bruce C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ballon
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018156:Journalism, Medical; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011364:Professional Practice; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D011932:Reading; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013850:Thinking; D014956:Writing