Improving Knowledge and Attitudes towards Depression: a controlled trial among Chinese medical students

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Ye Rong¹  Ian B Hickie¹  Tracey A Davenport²  Georgina M Luscombe²  Nick Glozier³  Yueqin Huang⁴ 

[1] Brain & Mind Research Institute The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Level 4, 94 Mallett Street Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia;Brain & Mind Research Institute The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Level 4, 94 Mallett Street Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia;Academic Research and Statistical Consulting (ARSC), 5 Herbert Street, 2114, West Ryde, NSW, Australia;Disciplines of Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Level 4, 94 Mallett Street Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia;Institute of Mental Health Peking University, Beijing, China No.51 Hua Yuan Bei Road, 100083, Beijing, Haidian District, P.R. China;

关键词: Medical Student;    Generalise Estimate Equation;    Public Health Impact;    Didactic Teaching;    Significant Time Effect;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-244X-11-36

 received in 2010-05-11, accepted in 2011-03-08,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEstablishing an evidence-based method of improving knowledge and attitudes concerning depression has been identified as a priority in Chinese medical education. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a self-directed learning strategy as a part of student-centred education improved knowledge of and attitudes towards depression among Chinese medical students.MethodsA controlled trial in which 205 medical students were allocated to one of two groups: didactic teaching (DT) group or a combined didactic teaching and self-directed learning (DT/SDL) group. The DT/SDL group continued having a series of learning activities after both groups had a lecture on depression together. Student's knowledge and attitudes were assessed immediately after the activities, one month and six months later.ResultsThe intervention (DT/SDL) group showed substantially greater improvements in recognition of depression as a major health issue and identifying helpful treatments than the DT group. Only the DT/SDL group demonstrated any improvement in attitudes. This improvement was sustained over six months.ConclusionsSelf-directed learning is an effective education strategy in improving medical students' knowledge of and attitudes towards depression.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Rong et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011