Psychiatry: practice, law & professional skills
Teaching & medical education
Teaching and medical education skills help psychiatrists train medical students, junior doctors, nurses and the public. Teaching is an expected part of specialist and consultant work, especially in Malaysia's teaching hospitals.
Depth by stage, Pre-U → Consultant (details)
What is it?
Doctors have always taught the next generation; the word 'doctor' itself comes from the Latin for teacher. Psychiatrists teach medical students on clinical postings, supervise house officers and medical officers, run sessions for nurses and allied staff, and give talks to schools, mosques, temples, churches and community groups.
Good teaching is a skill. It involves knowing how adults learn, planning sessions with clear objectives, giving useful feedback, assessing fairly, and being a good role model.
Many Malaysian psychiatrists work in university hospitals or MOH training centres where teaching is part of the job, and some take postgraduate qualifications in medical education.
Why does a psychiatrist need it?
Malaysia needs more psychiatrists and better mental health knowledge across all health workers. Psychiatrists who teach well multiply their impact, improve care beyond their own patients and help recruit future psychiatrists.
What level is expected at each stage?
Scale: 1. Aware → 2. Understands → 3. Applies → 4. Masters / Teaches. What the levels mean.
- Pre-UNot expected
- Pre-clinicalAwareExperiences teaching methods such as problem-based learning as a learner; may do peer teaching.
- ClinicalAwareTeaches junior students informally.
- HousemanshipAwareTeaches students on the wards occasionally.
- Medical officerUnderstandsGives tutorials to students and nurses.
- Psych traineeAppliesPlans and delivers teaching; receives feedback on teaching skills.
- Specialist / consultantMasters / TeachesLeads teaching programmes, examines and acts as educational supervisor.
What are the key topics?
How people learn
- Adult learning principles
- Experiential learning cycle
- Reflective practice
- Learning styles debate and evidence
- Motivation and feedback
Teaching methods
- Bedside and clinic teaching
- Small-group teaching and problem-based learning
- Lectures and large-group teaching
- Simulation and role-play
- Online and blended learning
Assessment
- Formative versus summative assessment
- Writing good multiple-choice and short-answer questions
- OSCE and long-case design
- Workplace-based assessments (e.g. case-based discussion, mini-CEX)
- Standard setting and fairness
Feedback and supervision
- Giving constructive feedback
- Supporting struggling learners
- Educational versus clinical supervision
- Mentoring and role modelling
Public education
- Mental health literacy talks
- Media interviews and responsible reporting
- Communicating with schools, workplaces and religious groups
How is it learned and assessed?
- Experiencing different teaching methods as a student
- Teaching students and juniors during housemanship and MO years
- Teaching sessions with feedback during specialist training, sometimes logged and assessed
- Optional postgraduate certificates or master's degrees in medical education
- Examiner training for consultants involved in university or college examinations
Typical textbooks and resources
- ABC of Learning and Teaching in Medicine — Cantillon & Wood (eds.), BMJ Books
- Understanding Medical Education — Swanwick (ed.)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists guidance on supervision and training
Titles are widely used examples; editions change. Use university libraries or legitimate purchases.
Common questions
Do psychiatrists have to teach?
Teaching is expected of specialists, especially in university and MOH training hospitals. Most psychiatrists teach students, juniors and other health workers as part of their job.
Can doctors get a qualification in teaching?
Yes. Some take postgraduate certificates, diplomas or master's degrees in medical education, offered by universities in Malaysia and abroad.