The 2016 Survey of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry.

OBJECTIVE: The members of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP) had been last surveyed in 2010 to identify trends in medical student education in psychiatry, teaching methods, academic productivity, and administrative issues. With increasing requirements, ADMSEP members were surveyed in 2016 to characterize current expectations for and needs of medical student educators in psychiatry.

METHODS: A 53-item survey was sent to members of ADMSEP (n=260) and to clerkship directors nationwide. The current survey expanded past surveys with questions about current issues in medical education. Questions included categorical and scaled items (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). All ADMSEP members were invited to complete the survey, but half of the questions were for those who identified as clerkship directors. The survey was sent electronically with two reminders.

RESULTS: The survey had a response rate of 42.7%. Half identified themselves as clerkship directors (49.5%), with an average of 6 years as both a clerkship director and member of ADMSEP. Respondents noted that being involved in education (mean 4.1) and ADMSEP (mean 4.2) were a benefit to their career, and also reported that they had adequate access to faculty resources. Respondents also reported concerns with access to educational research consultants and personnel management.

CONCLUSION: Results of the 2016 ADMSEP survey echoed previous membership surveys. However, training in personnel management, diminishing faculty resources, and compensation for education time emerged in this survey. Conducting a membership survey continues to provide beneficial information regarding the administration and education that occurs within psychiatry clerkship. Additionally, topics meriting further details have been identified that will be investigated in future membership surveys.