Research experience in psychiatry residency programs across Canada: current status.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychiatry Training
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Research experience is crucial for developing physician-scientists.
• Understanding current research training in psychiatry residencies is essential for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of research requirements and experiences within Canadian psychiatry residency programs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to Coordinators of Psychiatric Education (COPE) resident representatives across 17 Canadian programs.
• 15 out of 17 programs (88%) completed the survey detailing research training components.

Main Results:

• 73% of programs mandate scholarly activity for completion, with some implemented recently.
• Most programs offer research coordinators and protected time, but heterogeneity exists in specific requirements and support structures.
• Common scholarly activities include independent projects, quality improvement projects, and assisting faculty projects; publication is not required.

Conclusions:

• Research experience in Canadian psychiatry residencies is progressing positively.
• There is a notable diversity in how research training is structured and implemented across different residency programs.