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Training residents in depression and grief
Angela Ghesquiere1, Johanna Martinez2, Cathy Jalali3
1Hunter College of the City University of New York, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging, New York, New York, USA.
The Clinical Teacher
|April 8, 2017
Summary
A brief educational curriculum improved medical residents' knowledge, confidence, and self-reported behaviors when managing patients with depression and grief. This training shows promise for enhancing primary care for these common conditions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Primary Care
- Mental Health
Background:
- Depression and grief significantly impact patient quality of life and mortality.
- Primary care physicians often feel ill-equipped to manage depression and grief.
- Few studies have assessed the impact of training on medical residents' skills in these areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief educational curriculum on internal medicine residents' knowledge, attitudes, comfort, and reported behaviors regarding depression and grief.
- To assess the potential long-term impact of early career training in managing these conditions.
Main Methods:
- A curriculum was delivered in two 2-hour sessions to 40 internal medicine residents.
- Self-report surveys were administered pre-curriculum and approximately 5 months post-curriculum.
- The surveys measured changes in knowledge, attitudes, comfort level, and self-reported behaviors.
Main Results:
- Residents who received the curriculum reported increased knowledge regarding depression and grief.
- Residents showed enhanced confidence and self-reported behaviors in managing patients with these conditions.
- The positive changes were sustained for at least 5 months post-training.
Conclusions:
- A brief educational intervention can effectively improve residents' capacity to address depression and grief.
- These findings suggest that early career training may enhance depression and grief management in primary care.
- Further research is needed to replicate these promising results in diverse settings.