Psychiatry Residents’ Opinions of a Substance Abuse Rotation in a VA Hospital General Internal Medicine Unit

Abstract

Written optional evaluation forms were devised to gather psychiatry residents’ opinions regarding their substance use disorder rotation in a general internal medicine unit. Over a 4‐year period 24 residents completed that rotation and 83% (N = 20) completed the form. Of the responding residents, 95% (N = 19) rated an above‐average satisfaction with the rotation and 90% (N = 18) would recommend the rotation to other residents. All respondents 100% (N = 20) reported that the rotation met its stated training objectives. Considering the recent changes in the delivery of health care with its focus toward primary care and away from specialty care, these findings raise the possibility of incorporating the substance abuse training of psychiatry residents into the primary care setting of general internal medicine.