Teaching Psychiatry to Undergraduates: Peer-Peer Learning Using a "GP Letter"

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The authors describe a novel peer-peer learning activity with medical students, encompassing a specialist psychiatrist-general practitioner (GP) dyadic interchange of letters, and a group discussion facilitated by a GP and a psychiatrist to enhance students' appreciation of the complexities of psychiatric assessment and formulation, emphasize the importance of the GP in the comprehensive longitudinal care of people with a mental illness, and improve students' written communication skills. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to evaluate the activity. RESULTS: Twenty-eight fifth-year medical students undertook the learning activity; of these, 20 completed the..