Improving the psychosomatic competence of medical doctors in China, Vietnam and Laos-the Asia-Link Program.
OBJECTIVE
The European Union is supporting a 3-year cooperation project coordinated by the Freiburg University Clinic for the development and promotion of psychosomatic medicine in China, Vietnam, and Laos. The main objective is the development and performance of post-graduate training for medical doctors to improve doctor-patient communication and to acquire psychosomatic knowledge, skills, and attitudes.


METHODS
The project is based on contacts which have existed for several years with the Tongji University and the affiliated Tongji Hospital in Shanghai. Medical doctors in all disciplines are to learn to promptly recognize emotional disorders which frequently present in the primary care setting, to offer limited treatment themselves, and to cooperate with mental health specialists.


RESULTS
In the first year of the project, 50 medical doctors from different medical fields were trained as future teachers. In the second year, we are starting a pilot curriculum which will include 60 hours of theory and psychosocial interventions, divided into three blocks.


CONCLUSIONS
Future developments will involve setting up a psychosomatic network in Southeast Asia to establish advanced training in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy and to promote psychiatric and psychosomatic consultation and liaison services in the general hospitals.
Fritzsche
Kurt
K
Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany. kurt.fritzsche@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Scheib
Peter
P
Wirsching
Michael
M
Schüssler
Gerhard
G
Wu
Wenyuan
W
Cat
Nguyen Huu
NH
Vongphrachanh
Sisouk
S
Linh
Ngo Tich
NT
D000342:Affective Symptoms; D001208:Asia; D002681:China; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005062:European Union; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013663:Teaching; D014744:Vietnam