Residents' perceived physician-manager educational needs: a national survey of psychiatry residents

To determine Canadian psychiatry residents' perceived gaps in physician-manager competencies during their residency training.

Residents at 16 Canadian psychiatry residency programs were mailed an 11-item questionnaire (a copy is available from the authors) assessing their perceived deficiencies in selected managerial knowledge (GSk) and skill (GSs) areas as determined by gap scores (GS). GSs are defined as the difference between residents' perceived current and desired level of knowledge or skill in selected physician-manager domains. Residents' educational preferences were also elicited in the questionnaire.

Among the 494 psychiatry residents who were sent the survey, 237 residents (48%) responded. Residents reported the greatest GSk in Program Planning and the greatest GSs in Personal and Professional Self-Care. Predictors of greater total GSks included a lack of previous administrative education during medical school, higher training level, and female sex. Only sex was a significant predictor of total GSss. More than 50% of residents preferred workshops, small groups, mentoring, and didactic learning methods for furthering their knowledge and skills.

Residents report significant gaps in specific physician-manager training areas, specifically Program Planning, and Personal and Professional Self-Care. The results of this national survey can inform the development of formal physician-manager curricula. To appeal to residents, such curricula should incorporate more interactive pedagogical methods combined with mentoring opportunities.