Evaluation of Integrative Medicine in Residency-Psychiatry Curriculum

This study describes knowledge change, self-assessed confidence in providing integrative medicine approach, and respondents’ perspective on value and feasibility for the Integrative Medicine in Residency-Psychiatry (IMR-Psychiatry) curriculum, a 100-h elective offered during psychiatry training.

Residents/fellows completed pre-post Medical Knowledge tests and self-assessment instruments tracking self-rated confidence. Participants were also interviewed for feedback about their experience using a semi-structured design after completion of the program.

Thirty-five of 37 (94.6%) participants completed all elective requirements. Items on the self-assessment instrument with the greatest positive pre-post change (p < 0.001) included ability to identify authoritative sources about botanicals (Cohen d = 2.15), effectively respond to patients’ questions regarding the use of herbs/supplements (Cohen d = 2.67), and interpret labels on nutraceuticals (Cohen d = 2.28). Mean score on the Medical Knowledge test (n = 30) increased from 64.7% correct at pretest to 81.6% at posttest. Responses tracking self-assessed confidence in providing an IM approach to address 18 common medical and psychiatric conditions all increased significantly pre to post (p < 0.001). Qualitative interviews provided important insights into challenges and recommendations for improvement, and all participants highly recommended the curriculum and found it feasible to complete during training.

The IMR-Psychiatry curriculum provides trainees skills that promote comprehensive person-centered care; as a tool to optimize patient care and safety while enhancing physician well-being, wider-spread incorporation of the curriculum into psychiatry residency programs would be beneficial.