title: Use of alcoholics anonymous as part of medical school education: students' and educators' perspectives.
abstract: The objective of this study was to discover the utility, barriers, and experiences with the use of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a learning resource in the medical school curriculum. A third-year medical student cohort and a psychiatric educator group were queried about learned experiential lessons, attendance requirements, attitudes, and obstacles encountered. Forty-three educators, whose familiarity with AA varied widely, responded to the survey. Forty-seven percent required AA attendance and reported it was a positive experience for their students. Eighty-four percent felt students should attend AA and identified obstacles to its implementation. Separately, descriptive impressions of students (N = 95) who attended AA meetings were collected. Their responses were positive 46%, neutral 43%, or negative 11%. Respondents found AA meeting experiences generally positive, and although impediments to implementation of this experience still exist, they may be overcome with concerted efforts of psychiatric educators.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hampton, Virginia 23667, USA. kathleen.stack@va.gov
authors.forename: Kathleen Marie
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Fore Arcand
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Briscoe
mesh_terms: D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires