The psychiatry resident research experience.

BACKGROUND: Research activity is especially critical in the field of psychiatry as it is evolving rapidly thanks to advances in neuroscience.

RESULTS: We administered a 34-item survey regarding research experiences targeted at psychiatry residents and postgraduate residency program directors in Canada. One hundred and nineteen participants answered the survey (16 program directors, 103 residents) allowing for a margin of error of 8.4% at a 95% confidence interval. Research was rated as important in informing clinical practice (87.0% yes, 13.0% no), but only 28.7% of respondents reported that it was taught well at their home institution (33.0% no, 38.3% neutral). Only a small proportion was enthusiastic or very enthusiastic about participating in research (21.7%).

CONCLUSIONS: While the importance of research is recognized, there is little consensus with respect to whether a standardized research practicum component is included in the resident curriculum.