JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Evidence-based, well-designed psychotherapy teaching for medical students and residents is urgently needed.

Objective:

To measure the effectiveness of a new multimodal psychotherapy teaching program for medical students and residents in China.

Methods:

This study was a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). The intervention group received a two-day multimodal-based intensive educational intervention with eight weeks of follow-up (supervision-based online teaching). The wait-list control group did not receive the intervention until the end of the study. Both groups were followed for eight weeks. This trial was conducted at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital. This study aimed to recruit about 160 medical students and residents, with approximately 80 in each group. The primary outcome measure was the change in trainees’ psychotherapy knowledge. Secondary outcome measures included training program acceptability, trainees’ utilization of psychotherapy, self-reported self-efficacy, and self-reported motivation for psychotherapy.

Results:

Participants were recruited and randomized between January 4th and January 12th, 2024. A baseline assessment was conducted from 28th Jan to 1st February 2024. The psychotherapy training program for the intervention group was held on the 3rd and 4th February 2024. The post-training assessment was conducted from 1st April 2024.

Conclusions:

If this CBT-based brief and short-term psychotherapy skill training program would be effective, the mental health impact of its expansion nationwide could be enormous. Clinical Trial: The study had been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06258460, website: https://register.clinicaltrials.gov)