Assessing the Factors Affecting Recruitment to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Programs

Objective

The objective of this pilot study was to sample early career child and adolescent psychiatrists (EC CAP), Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) fellows, adult residents, and medical students to identify factors affecting recruitment to CAP fellowship.

Method

A 25-item questionnaire was sent to all adult psychiatry, CAP fellowship, triple-board residency program directors, and coordinators in the US to disseminate to their trainees. Questionnaires also were disseminated via professional groups on social media, and through psychiatry student interest groups to medical students.

Results

A total of 369 people responded, of which 315 questionnaires were evaluable. Approximately half of the respondents were CAP fellows or EC CAP. Most decided to pursue a career in child psychiatry during medical school. Forty-three percent owed more than $200,000 in educational debt. The top reasons for pursuing a career in child and adolescent psychiatry included working with children, finding it to be a rewarding career, and finding it intellectually stimulating. A switch to a 1-year fellowship and higher income potential were noted to be factors that may increase consideration for CAP fellowship among those who chose not to pursue it.

Conclusions

The majority of early career child and adolescent psychiatrists were recruited during medical school, motivated by altruistic reasons. Early child psychiatry exposure, a means of addressing physician debt, providing additional incentives in geographically undesirable locations, and improving compensation, is needed to improve recruitment to this specialty.