A study of student attitudes toward a psychiatric clerkship

Sixty-seven third-year medical students at the University of Ottawa were interviewed at the beginning and end of a month-long clerkship in psychiatry. Two attitude categories were designated: "attitude-positive" (AP) differentiated subjects with positive clerkship expectations or attitudes for "attitude-negative" (AN) subjects who had negative expectations or attitudes. Differences between preclerkship APs and ANs are described. Postclerkship interviews revealed a general improvement in attitudes toward psychiatry and the psychiatric clerkship. Statistically significant differences were noted between postclerkship APs and ANs in the following: attitudes toward psychiatry, attainment of preclerkship objectives, reduction of anxiety levels, and nature of supervisory experiences. Postclerkship attitudes may be predicted to some extent prior to the clerkship. The potential for a negative postclerkship attitude may be modified by positive clerkship experiences. The importance of identifying students vulnerable to the stresses of psychiatric clerkship is emphasized.