Implementation of the Curriculum: Mental Health Residency Curriculum

The materials for this curriculum were intended to be provided in such a way that preceptors may modify and tailor the materials for best use in their programs. In Winter/Spring 2014, a group of preceptors from across the country pilot tested the curriculum.

Below are some of the ways these preceptors implemented the curriculum:

"It worked very well in my small program to take 2 hours of noon lecture time to implement this curriculum. I also invited our behavioral health colleagues to attend, and this was helpful in getting residents to utilize them more."

"The biggest feedback would be to use Building Piece of Mind handouts by the Ohio Chapter and the Tips to Promote Social-Emotional Health Among Young Children is also very very awesome."

"We had 2 preceptors run the session. I think it went better when we had a smaller number of residents to actually share their experiences. Interactions were better than just reading off the PowerPoint. It may be helpful to try it as a 1-2 hour workshop session where residents aren't rushed."

"Our program implemented the curriculum over a 1-month period with four 1-hour sessions prior to the start of clinic. Two preceptors presented the topics to about 5-7 residents and 3-4 attendings. We used the PowerPoint presentation and prepared using the facilitator's guide. We made the lectures very interactive with case scenarios and a lot of discussion."

"Our program allocates 30 minutes for continuity conference, so I modified the length of the PowerPoint presentations to highlight one case for each session. I found providing the facilitators with the guides and the PowerPoint presentations a few weeks in advance, and then discussing how they felt about the materials helped with implementation. The pre-work for the residents was distributed by email one week in advance. They were expected to read the reflection for module 1 and read the background materials for both modules before the lectures were given."

"To teach the curriculum, I needed 2 sessions (1 hour each module). A scheduled 1 hour noon conference will be adequate for module 1. Although, we in our program have a 30 minute teaching session, prior to seeing patients, I don't think that this is a good setting to teach it because the residents have continuity clinic once a week and this will mean, I will be needing another session to complete a module ( 4 continuity clinic sessions to complete the 2 modules). The teaching materials provided are more than adequate. The facilitator's guide helped me a lot in my preparation. The PowerPoint presentation is well prepared and the videos are excellent. I really did not have to modify it. The only modifications I did were to put animations to keep them more engaged (animations to hide the choices/response/answers and let them think first)."

"I preferred the videos as a teaching tool and discussion of actual cases."

"I modified to use both parts in 1 noon conference. These are usually about 50 minutes long, so adequate time for both parts. Pacing will improve as I use again over time. A bit rushed at end each day due to late start. Late start is common in later part of year as residents gather food to come to noon conference. We had students, residents, generalists participate in each session (usually present at many/most noon conferences). We also have psychology interns and post docs in our clinic. I didn't invite them (or SW) but in future doing as large multidisciplinary conference earlier in year would be helpful. We do much on social determinants of health and residents do get some additional mental health experience/curriculum in variety of settings. Never hurts to repeat and overlap to improve confidence and uptake."

"We posted the curriculum to the resident Blackboard site along with subsequent kids seen in clinic with behavioral health and anxiety disorders. These were then shared as "examples" of how the curriculum could help in real time."