Medical Student Reflections on a Prison Psychiatric Experience: A Qualitative Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Many individuals with psychiatric conditions are treated in carceral settings.
• Medical learners' experiences in carceral environments are not well-documented.
• Understanding these experiences is crucial for medical education and healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze medical student reflections from a carceral psychiatry rotation.
• To understand pre-rotation beliefs and how clinical experiences alter them.
• To assess the rotation's impact on students' interest in carceral medicine.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of deidentified student reflections (n=19).
• Independent coding using an inductive approach and a developed codebook.
• Thematic analysis conducted in ATLAS.ti software with consensus-based discrepancy resolution.

Main Results:

• Five themes emerged: preconceived notions, prison environment, incarcerated individuals, carceral system, and insights gained.
• Most students' initial beliefs about safety and aggression were challenged.
• Clinical interactions humanized incarcerated individuals, revealing rewarding aspects of carceral work.

Conclusions:

• Direct patient interactions during rotations significantly challenged students' preconceived notions.
• Carceral psychiatry rotations, especially those with direct patient care, offer unique educational value.
• The experience motivated many students to consider future careers in carceral medicine.