Teaching psychiatry to medical students in the time of COVID-19: experiences from UK medical schools

AIMS AND METHOD: Education leads for undergraduate psychiatry in UK medical schools completed questionnaires on adaptations made to undergraduate psychiatry education, their impact and what lessons could be learnt for the future. RESULTS: Respondents from 24 medical schools across the UK reported a major shift to online teaching delivery, with reduced workplace learning and increased use of teleconferencing, online tasks and self-directed learning. Changes were implemented with some faculty training provided, but little additional funding or resources from medical schools or National Health Service trusts. A variety of challenges and opportunities were reported. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Despite the extraordinary efforts of education leads to maintain undergraduate psychiatry education, the pandemic may affect the development of students’ professional competencies and recruitment into psychiatry. Individual clinicians, trusts and medical and foundation schools have much to offer, and need to work with students to replace what has been lost during the pandemic.