The making of child and adolescent psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand

Psychiatry trainee experience of working in a child and adolescent eating disorder program

OBJECTIVES

Eating disorders are serious psychiatric conditions that affect people of all ages. Many psychiatry trainees' first and only experience with eating disorders during training is their Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) rotation. This study aimed to explore the learning experience of psychiatry trainees working within an Eating Disorder Program (EDP) during their CAP rotation.

METHODS

Fifteen trainees who participated in the EDP were recruited to complete an online survey and focus groups; a thematic analysis design was used to identify themes emerging from their responses.

RESULTS

Themes emerged from the trainee learning experience of working in the EDP around what they found they learnt, what aided that process, what was difficult, and recommendations for future improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided insight into the trainee experience in an EDP as one example of how trainees can learn about eating disorders and one way that could inform future workforce and training initiatives.