A survey of general practitioners' opinions and perceived competencies in teaching undergraduate psychiatry.
BACKGROUND
There have been increasing numbers of suggestions that general practitioners (GPs) should be more involved in undergraduate teaching. This study looks at GPs' opinions regarding those best placed to deliver undergraduate psychiatry teaching and what areas of the curriculum GPs feel competent to teach. The study aims to inform decisions about the contribution of GPs to the delivery of undergraduate teaching in psychiatry.


METHODS
A questionnaire asked GPs about teaching undergraduate psychiatry in both general and specialist areas.


RESULTS
The response rate was 61%. Over a third of GPs felt competent to teach psychiatry to undergraduates in a general practice setting, and the vast majority thought psychiatry should be taught by a combination of GPs and psychiatrists. GPs felt least confident about teaching child psychiatry and addiction.


CONCLUSIONS
Many GPs would like to be involved in teaching psychiatry and would welcome further training. The study suggests that there is capacity for increasing teaching in collaboration with GPs.
Thompson
Catherine
C
Harplands Hospital, Hilton Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 6TH, UK. catherine.thompson@northstaffs.nhs.uk
Dogra
Nisha
N
McKinley
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013663:Teaching