title: Fostering psychiatry in Ghana: the impact of a short review course through an international collaboration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to evaluate a short review course in psychiatry conducted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology medical school and any change in student interest in a career in psychiatry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were asked to complete a general psychiatric knowledge questionnaire before and immediately after the course. They were also asked to rate their attitude toward psychiatry as a career. The same questionnaire was readministered 1 month later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average results on the knowledge test pre-course was 52% (N=129) and post-course was 78% (N=122), constituting a 50% increase in knowledge for the average student. The proportion of students showing considerable interest in a psychiatric career increased from 19% pre-course to 32% post-course. At 1-month follow-up, the average result for the knowledge test was 76%, and considerable interest in psychiatry as a career was noted at 21%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that the course significantly improved core psychiatric knowledge and that this improvement was retained after 1 month. An initial increase in interest in psychiatry as a career decreased almost to baseline at 1-month follow-up. Study limitations include the use of the same questionnaire at each stage knowledge was tested and the absence of a control group.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Australia, Fremantle, Australia. Jonathan.laugharne@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laugharne
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Appiah-Poku
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laugharne
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012577:Schools, Medical