Effectiveness of a summer school in influencing medical students' attitudes towards psychiatry

Aims and method Summer schools are advocated as part of the national recruitment initiative despite little evidence of their impact. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 3-day non-clinical initiative. Change in attitudes and career intention were measured by administering a questionnaire, which included the 30-item Attitudes Toward Psychiatry (ATP-30) survey, at the start and end of the event. Results Mean ATP-30 scores increased from 119 to 128, which represented a highly statistically significant change ( t = 5.40, d.f. = 18, P < 0.001). A positive shift in intention to pursue psychiatry as a career was demonstrated. Clinical implications These results suggest well-planned summer schools can have a significant impact on students' attitudes. Despite high initial ATP-30 scores a positive shift in attitudes and career intentions was still seen. Further evaluation of the longitudinal impact is needed. Events such as this are important and likely produce a cumulative effect alongside other recruitment strategies.