"The forest and the trees": a narrative medicine curriculum by residents for residents.

A 7-session narrative medicine (NM) curriculum was designed and facilitated by pediatrics residents for pediatrics residents in order to unpack challenging experiences during clinical training and strengthen relationships with colleagues and patients. The primary facilitator, a resident with a master's degree in NM, provided facilitator training to her co-residents with whom she co-led the workshops in the curriculum. We conducted, transcribed, and analyzed individual interviews of 15 residents, with three resultant themes: reflection on personal and professional identity; connection to others and community building; and reconceptualization of medical practice. Residents shared that they experienced greater solidarity, professional fulfillment, appreciation for multiple facets of their identities, recognition of holding space for vulnerability, and advocacy for marginalized populations. Our study highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of peer-led NM workshops to enhance clinical training through self-reflection, inclusion of persons from underrecognized backgrounds, and promotion of values consistent with humanistic care. IMPACT: A novel narrative medicine curriculum was designed and facilitated by pediatrics residents for pediatrics residents. The curriculum was feasible and acceptable to pediatrics residents and required a facilitator with content and methodology expertise in narrative medicine to train additional facilitators. Three themes emerged from resident interviews: reflection on personal and professional identity; connection to others and community building; and reconceptualization of medical practice on individual and global levels.

Feasibility and acceptability of the multicontext approach for individuals with acquired brain injury in acute inpatient rehabilitation: A single case series.

The Multicontext (MC) approach, a metacognitive intervention designed to improve awareness, strategy use, and executive functioning, may be beneficial for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation. The goal of this study was to provide evidence of feasibility and acceptability of the MC approach and to explore clinical outcomes. A case series of eight individuals with acquired brain injury and at least mild executive functioning impairment were recruited from an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit. The MC approach - involving guided questioning and patient self-generation of strategies practiced across everyday functional cognitive tasks - was implemented within routine occupational therapy. Occupational therapists implemented the MC approach with high adherence to the treatment protocol. Therapists' perceived challenges were the time constraints of inpatient rehabilitation as well as client factors. Participants rated the MC approach as highly satisfying and engaging. They described subjective improvements in their ability to use executive functioning strategies. The MC approach was associated with improvement in awareness, strategy use, and executive functioning at the conclusion of treatment. The MC approach may be a beneficial intervention for individuals with acquired brain injury and executive dysfunction undergoing acute inpatient rehabilitation. Further evaluation with larger samples in controlled trials is warranted.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04363645..

Psychotherapy training in Ireland: A survey of college tutors.

OBJECTIVES: Psychotherapeutic skills are essential to practice psychiatry effectively, but previous surveys of trainees in Ireland show that they have not been getting adequate training in psychotherapy. This survey of college tutors was carried out to coincide with the establishment of the College of Psychiatry of Ireland which is introducing new psychotherapy training requirements. The survey aims to ascertain if trainees had fulfilled the Royal College of Psychiatrists' psychotherapy training requirements, models of psychotherapy available and the availability of psychotherapy qualifications amongst consultants and senior registrars. METHODS: A questionnaire was posted to all registered tutors in the Republic of Ireland. RESULTS: The postal questionnaire was sent to the 62 registered college tutors in the 13 training schemes. There is one tutor in each training hospital. The response rate was 79%. Our survey reveals that no psychotherapy training was available according to 16.3% of tutors. Only 22.5% of tutors were aware of trainees who had met college training requirements in the previous two years. 79.8% of tutors reported that there were consultants and senior registrars with qualifications in psychotherapy who could offer training if time and resources permitted. CONCLUSIONS: Current training requirements are not being fulfilled. There are consultants and senior registrars who have psychotherapy qualifications to provide psychotherapy training but there are inadequate resources and time to formalise training. It is unlikely that the implementation of training requirements by the new college will be realisable without a review of training delivery.