# Experiences in child and adolescent psychiatry training: an international qualitative study

## TL;DR

This study explores the training experiences of child and adolescent psychiatry trainees and trainers from around the world to identify common themes and improve training standards.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into CAP training across diverse cultural contexts, highlighting the need for tailored supervision and trainer support.

## Key findings

- Trainees emphasized the importance of psychological security and a comprehensive curriculum.
- Trainers highlighted the need for supervisor training and reflective frameworks to guide trainees.
- Cultural and social dimensions significantly influence mental health training experiences.

## Abstract

Experiences of medical specialist trainees in psychiatry can be informative for those who seek to improve post-graduate training. This study aimed to explore the experience of child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) trainees across different training settings and cultures worldwide to seek out similarities and differences.

A convenience sample of CAP-trainees (n = 36) and -trainers (n = 54) was recruited internationally. All provided a narrative account on aspects of training in their region (n = 27 different countries), either first-person (trainees) or through external perception (trainers). Thematic analysis was used for inductive treatment of the data.

Trainees’ and trainers’ perspectives covered psychological security of the educational framework (including a comprehensive curriculum; social support and recognition of local context), specific skills to be acquired during training and the effects of the social-cultural dimension on mental health (training). Trainers’ perspectives highlighted the importance of support and training for supervisors; an overall view to make sense of the training framework; and of looking at training through objective and subjective frameworks of thinking to understand and guide trainees’ pathways.

Experiences from international psychiatry trainees suggest themes that may guide further development of international standards in psychiatry specialist training on a tailored and consistent supervision framework for trainees. For their trainers, a learning community may offer ongoing support, supervision skill development and help reflect on overall views on systems of care.