Extracurricular psychiatry enrichment programmes for undergraduate medical students: systematic review

Psychiatry is a rewarding career, but many medical students have limited exposure to the specialty. Extracurricular enrichment programmes aim to provide early exposure to psychiatry, promote positive attitudes and encourage early career interest.

To systematically review literature on extracurricular psychiatry enrichment programmes for undergraduate medical students.

The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251025990) and followed PRISMA guidelines. Four databases were searched using pre-determined search strings. Records were screened and data extracted independently by two authors. Quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis summarised and consolidated findings.

Of 731 articles screened, 65 full reports were assessed for eligibility and 27 were included. These studies were conducted across 10 countries, most commonly the USA and UK. Programme duration and format varied from single-day events (n = 2) to longitudinal mentoring schemes spanning medical school (n = 5). Summer schools were most common (n = 10). Other schemes included mentoring, elective courses, special study modules, student-led clinics and film/media-based activities. Student feedback was positive, particularly for mentoring and film/media initiatives. Most studies reported improved attitudes towards psychiatry and mental illness, with several reporting statistically significant improvements using validated tools. Of 18 studies assessing career intentions, 16 reported increased interest in a career in psychiatry, and six studies reported higher subsequent match rates into psychiatry specialty training.

The available literature on voluntary extracurricular enrichment programmes suggests that they may provide positive student experiences and are associated with improved attitudes and early interest in psychiatry through meaningful learning opportunities. However, the evidence base is limited as most studies were small, self-selected samples with short-term follow-up and predominantly self-reported outcomes.