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Are psychiatrists real doctors? A survey of the medical experience and training of psychiatric trainees in the west of Scotland

Argyll and Bute Hospital, Lochgilphead, Argyll PA31 8LD, Scotland

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

A questionnaire was sent to 122 psychiatric trainees in the west of Scotland to clarify the extent to which trainees provide physical healthcare to their in-patients and to establish trainees’ views on the need for further training.

RESULTS

Almost all of the 65 respondents were expected to provide emergency care, and a large majority dealt with physical health problems on a regular basis. Few respondents had received any formal training in physical health care problems since entering psychiatry.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The results of the questionnaire suggest that psychiatric trainees are currently providing a considerable amount of physical healthcare for psychiatric in-patients. Clarifying the medical experiences and training of psychiatric trainees may help to inform future debate as to the appropriate management of physical healthcare for psychiatric patients.

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