Medical students' interest in child psychiatry: a clerkship intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examine the efficacy of a brief presentation to enhance clerkship student interest in child and adolescent psychiatry as a career choice.
METHOD: Attitudes of students attending a brief presentation on the positive aspects of child psychiatry were compared with those of non-attenders.
RESULTS: Students who attended the presentation were more accurate in reporting salaries and acknowledging a shortage in the field. Their interest in child and adolescent psychiatry as a career choice, however, did not change. Student interest was related to having had prior contact with a psychiatrist, whereas decreased interest was related to having an adult-only experience during the clerkship.
CONCLUSIONS: A brief presentation can be effective in changing certain factual perceptions about child and adolescent psychiatry but may be ineffective in enhancing medical students' interest in it. However, exposure to child patients during the clerkship may prevent a decline in student interest in the field.