Psychiatric Bulletin (2008) 32: 197-198. doi: 10.1192/pb.32.5.197b
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Correspondence

Trainees’ views on service user and carer involvement in training: a perspective from the West Midlands

Amitav Narula, Specialist Registrar in General Adult Psychiatry

*Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, Small Heath Health Centre, Chapman Road, Birmingham B10 0PG, email: samant{at}narulas.freeserve.co.uk

Elizabeth Furlong, Specialist Registrar in General Adult Psychiatry

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust

Nicole Karen Fung, Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Parkview Clinic, Moseley

A survey similar to Babu et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, January 2008, 32, 28-31) was conducted in the West Midlands a year after it became mandatory to involve users and carers in psychiatric training. Completed questionnaires were received from 180 trainees and included specialist registrars from all specialties and senior house officers from all four rotations. A greater percentage of trainees (64% v. 47% in Babu et al’s survey) were aware of the College requirement for user and carer involvement in training. As with Babu et al’s survey, the most common setting was during case presentations (77%). As many as 61% of senior house officers had experienced user and carer involvement in their Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ academic programme compared with only 23% of specialist registrars.

The majority wanted users and carers to share their experiences and perspectives (82%) and to give feedback about their ability, attitudes and skills (70%). This was less so for involvement in planning teaching programmes (22%) and in selection of trainees onto training schemes (17%). This may be a reflection of the same reservations highlighted in Babu et al’s survey. Livingston & Cooper’s (2004) recommendation for training and support to users and carers would be essential in addressing these concerns. The introduction and implementation of this major component in training requires balancing the sensitivities and needs of both service users and trainees. Drawing from the experiences of other training schemes and the results of further research and audit will be an integral part in furthering this area of training.

References

  1. LIVINGSTON, G. & COOPER, C. (2004) User and carer involvement in mental health training. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 10, 85 -92.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Related articles in PB:

Involving service users and carers in psychiatric education: what do trainees think?
Kavitha Suresh Babu, Richard Law-Min, Tracy Adlam, and Vicky Banks
PB 2008 32: 28-31. [Full Text]  




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