The overwhelming majority of attendees at last fall's APA Institute on
Psychiatric Services (IPS) in San Diego said that the sessions met their
educational objectives and incorporated up-to-date research findings,
according to an analysis of the evaluation forms turned in by attendees.
Though IPS attendance was somewhat lower than in recent years, this did not
dampen the enthusiasm of meeting attendees—about 97 percent of those who
completed an evaluation of the meeting (394) rated the IPS sessions as"
excellent."
IPS attendance was 1,412, and when exhibitors, press, staff, and
unregistered faculty were included, there were 1,156 attendees. More than 150
sessions were offered in a variety of formats, including multimedia sessions,
which used film and video as teaching tools.
Crucial topics on which IPS sessions focused included assertive community
treatment, homelessness, cultural competency, and HIV/AIDS psychiatry, which
all fit well with the meeting's theme, "Recovery and
Community."
The trainee session "Clinical Approaches to Working With People Who
Are Homeless and Have Mental Illness: Challenges and Rewards" was
supported by the Center for Mental Health Services, National Resource and
Training Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness, and the Department of
Psychiatry at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center. The
session, which drew 60 attendees, also reflected the meeting's theme.
The meeting also featured for the first time an afternoon-long gala titled"
Celebration Recovery," which included presentations, art
exhibits, and music and drew hundreds of meeting attendees and mental health
consumers from Southern California.
A report from APA's Department of Continuing Medical Education (CME)
compiled information about registrants and their impressions of the meeting.
Kathleen Debenham, M.A., who is director of that department, prepared the
report.
"Active participation by community psychiatrists in planning the
institute and introducing sessions such as Celebration Recovery contributed to
the vitality of the meeting," Debenham said. "Overall, attendee
response was upbeat and positive."
General evaluation forms were placed in all registration packets and
distributed at a variety of locations. A computerized evaluation survey
allowed registrants to complete the evaluation online. In addition, forms were
mailed after the meeting to those who did not respond on site.
With the Web-based evaluation system, attendees can now complete their
evaluation at the computer center on site, from their hotel, or at home after
the meeting.
The evaluation program also generates a personalized certificate of
attendance once the evaluation is completed.
About 97 percent of respondents to the evaluation agreed that the sessions
met their educational objectives, and the same proportion agreed that multiple
views were presented at the industry-supported symposia.
According to the evaluation results, 72 percent of the respondents were
psychiatrists. Psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and
nurses made up 17 percent of respondents. Nearly two-thirds of attendees (65
percent) cited patient care as their primary professional activity. About 16
percent of respondents said that they worked in administrative capacities.
Support from California district branches contributed to the substantial
participation in the San Diego meeting; California attendees numbered 271,
according to Debenham, and 118 were APA members.
After reviewing evaluation scores and comments, Department of CME staff
made several recommendations for the 2006 institute. These recommendations
include continued involvement of the Scientific Program Committee with the
local district branch and its members early in the development of the meeting
and capitalizing on access to local resources for IPS faculty.
The 2006 Institute on Psychiatric Services will be held from October
5 to 8 in New York City. More information is posted online at<www.psych.org/edu/ann_mtgs/ips/06/index.cfm>.▪