Family practice residents' perceptions of behavioral science training, relevance, and needs

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Behavioral Science in Family Medicine

Background:

• Behavioral science training is crucial for family practice residents.
• Current residency curricula may not fully meet residents' needs in this area.
• Understanding residents' perspectives is key to improving training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess family practice residents' training experiences in behavioral science.
• To identify areas for curriculum improvement in behavioral science education.
• To explore residents' perceptions of the relevance of behavioral science to family practice.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to 56 family practice residents from 23 states.
• Questions focused on experiential content, relevance, and curriculum suggestions.
• Data collected on residents' perceived knowledge and skills.

Main Results:

• Residents demonstrated knowledge in medical psychology and psychiatric consultation.
• Practical intervention skills were identified as a strength.
• Residents reported a need for enhanced behavioral science training.

Conclusions:

• Residents advocate for curriculum changes emphasizing new areas of concern.
• A more practical, integrated approach to behavioral science is recommended, starting in medical school.
• A dual approach combining medical psychology and traditional mental health skills is suggested.