Psychiatric residents as teachers: development and evaluation of a teaching manual.

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric residents spend much time as teachers and mentors to medical students. Recently, the Canadian Medical Education Directions for Specialists (CanMEDS) roles identified the importance of this role as a scholar. Residents are now expected to develop skills to fulfill this role, one of which involves the ability to teach. However, lack of tools to facilitate the development of resident teaching skills poses a significant problem.
METHODS: This article describes the development and evaluation of a resident teaching manual, written by psychiatric residents for use by fellow residents, in their teaching endeavors with medical students at the University of Alberta.
RESULTS: Residents appreciated using this manual to enhance their skills in teaching medical students.
CONCLUSION: The development of, and the preliminary survey of this psychiatric resident teaching manual, is encouraging in furthering the development of future psychiatrist teachers.