The situation of training in psychiatry in south eastern europe and the relevance of young psychiatrists' networks: Experiences from Croatia

Abstract

Background and Aims

Croatian Young Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Trainees Section was founded on December 15, 2005. as part of Croatian Psychiatric Association, established to promote different activities using network of young psychiatrists accros the world. In order to indicate activities that could fulfill possible gaps in our educational system, we performed a study among psychiatry residents and young specialists from different Croatian psychiatric centers.

Methods

91 participants answered the questionnaire constructed to obtain information about profile of young psychiatrist in Croatia, objective parameters of educational quality to produce competent psychiatrist, evaluation of residency training and suggestions of how to improve the current educational system.

Results

Study results indicate that Croatian psychiatry residents are derived from a pool of average to above average medical students and majority is engaged in postgraduate studies and research acitivities and shows high interest in specific psychiatric fields such as psychotherapy and clinical psychiatry, but low interest in community psychiatry and mental health. Most of participants are only partially satisfied with the current residency training and feel that most problems reside from the lack of practical psychotherapy, the inefficiency of the mentorship system and the lack of opportunities for student's exchanges with other countries.

Conclusion

The results of this study revealed the major problems of psychiatry residents in Croatia. Following those results, we will perform the study that would include mentors and supervizors from different Croatian psychiatric centers. That could enable the developement of specific interventions with aim to improve current residency training in Croatia.