Needs Assessment to Inform Future Development of the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry

The National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP) was published in 2019 to address a critical gap in psychiatry residency didactic training. However, because the curriculum is available online, diverse users may access it. This study aimed to characterize NCRP users and assess their educational needs to inform future curriculum development.

A survey was distributed in two phases: (1) via email to 845 registered NCRP users and (2) via social media and professional listservs. The survey assessed user profession, training level, primary reason for using NCRP, satisfaction, and interest in additional materials. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed.

In phase 1, 198 of 845 NCRP users responded to the survey, yielding a response rate of 23%. Forty-two additional responses were received in phase two. Most respondents (81%) reported specializing in psychiatry, and 70% identified as physicians. Over half (56%) described themselves as independent users. Respondents reported high satisfaction with NCRP design and organization. Thematic analysis identified five key themes for improvement, focused on time constraints and content type.

Though originally intended for psychiatry residency programs, the NCRP now also serves a broad, interdisciplinary audience including independent learners. These new users value its structure but would prefer shorter, multimedia-enhanced content. Limited protected time for reproductive psychiatry education, compounded by competing curricular priorities, remains the primary barrier to curriculum incorporation in residency programs. NCRP can advocate for additional integration into formal residency training while also developing flexible materials to support diverse, interdisciplinary learners.