APPRENTICE STYLE TO COMPETENCY STYLE PSYCHIATRIC TRAINING: 5 YEAR STUDY OF SINGAPORE PSYCHIATRIC TRAINING

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. Introduction Singapore had an apprentice style medical specialization training program until 2010 when it adopted an ACGME certified residency training program. A recent survey showed Singapore psychiatry residents rating their educational environment worse than non-residency psychiatry trainees. To confirm these findings we repeated a 2008 survey of perceived importance and adequacy of 11 aspects of psychiatric training among psychiatry trainees in Singapore. Methods We sent out an electronic survey to all psychiatry trainees in Singapore (residents and non-residents) to rate their perceived importance and adequacy on 11 aspects of psychiatric training on a 5 point Likert scale. Results were analyzed with paired or independent t-test analysis as appropriate with p-values at 0.05. Results The survey was conducted from Apr to Aug 2013 with a response rate of 57.9% (N=44). The perceived adequacy of training was significantly better in 2013 than 2008 with 6 of 11 aspects of training rated higher in 2013. Residents had higher ratings in 16 of 19 significant between group differences of perceived adequacy of training. Conclusions A competency based style residency program has resulted in improved perceived adequacy of psychiatric training compared to an apprentice style program. Further research to assess objective adequacy of psychiatric training under the residency program is recommended.