WHAT AND HOW PSYCHIATRY RESIDENTS AT 10 TRAINING-PROGRAMS WISH TO LEARN ABOUT ETHICS

The study's objective was to survey what and how psychiatry residents want to learn about ethics during residency. A 4-page questionnaire de veloped for this study was sent to 305 residents at 10 adult psychiatr y programs in the United States. One-hundred and eighty-one (59%) of t hose surveyed responded. Seventy-six percent reported facing an ethica l dilemma in residency for which they felt unprepared. Forty-six perce nt reported having received no ethics training during residency. More than 50% of the respondents requested that ''more'' curricular attenti on be paid to 19 specific ethics topics and more than 40% for 25 topic s. Preferences with respect to learning methods are presented. This su rvey may provide guidance in structuring the content and process of et hics education for psychiatry residents. These findings should stimula te the efforts of faculty to commit time and attention to this importa nt curricular area.