Law and Psychiatry Seminar: An Advanced Intervention in Interprofessional Education and Attitudinal Improvement

Authors

  • Mansfield Mela Department of Psychiatry University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
  • Krista Trinder University of Saskatchewan
  • Glen Luther University of Saskatchewan
  • Marcel D'Eon University of Saskatchewan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/jripe.2013v3n2a105

Keywords:

interprofessional, education, law, psychiatry, collaboration

Abstract

Background: The tenuous relationship between psychiatrists and lawyers does not serve mental health patients in conflict with the law or society well. The characteristic miscommunication that occurs, though premised on differential pedagogical constructs, presents an opportunity to intervene from the pre-licensure educationalstage with the hope of positively affecting future practice.

Methods: Law students and psychiatric residents were brought together to interact with each other and with instructors from the two fields through the Law and Psychiatry interprofessional seminar series. We examined the attitudes and perceived co-operation of learners in this seminar in comparison to a control group of law students (Human Rights class) who did not have any interprofessional interaction.

Findings: Learners in the interprofessional seminar series reported more positive attitudes toward members of the other profession after completing the course. Additional positive changes in the level of perception of and actual co-operation with the other profession were noted with high satisfaction among participants.

Conclusions: Learning activities that can foster positive interactions with and understanding of other professions may improve relations and collaboration in interprofessional education. The potential impact and benefit for the patient and the system are worthwhile.

Author Biographies

Mansfield Mela, Department of Psychiatry University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

Associate Professor in Psychiatry in the University of Saskatchewan. Presents on topical issues in meetings of Psychiatry and the Law. Involved in interprofessional interdisciplinary education in Law and Psychiatry in the practice of Forensic Psychiatry. Areas of Research concerns the interface of psychiatry and the law including cognitive factors that predispose and precipitate criminal activities with a view of trying to reduce the occurences and preventatively support a safe community. Also involved in the orientation and mentoring schemes for international medical graduates.

Krista Trinder, University of Saskatchewan

Krista Trinder is a research coordinator with the Council of Health Science Deans Office at the University of Saskatchewan. 

Glen Luther, University of Saskatchewan

Glen Luther, LL. B., LLM, QC, Associate Professor, College of Law. Associate Professor of Law, Associate Member Department of Psychiatry, Executive Committee Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies , University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Professor Luther has published extensively in the criminal procedure area. His academic interests include police powers, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law and sentencing, trial procedure, evidence and Law and Psychiatry. His new book, Detention and Arrest, co-authored with Professor Steve Coughlan of Dalhousie University, was published in 2010 by Irwin Law.

Marcel D'Eon, University of Saskatchewan

Marcel D’Eon serves as a faculty lead for teaching and curriculum development at the College of Medicine, University Of Saskatchewan. He is also currently the Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee of Council and Director of the Centre for Discovery and Learning at the U of S. He is a regular reviewer for journals in medical education and is an Associate Editor for the Canadian Medical Education Journal and the Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. His research interests include relevance of bio-medical content, program evaluation, effective pedagogy, interprofessional education, teaching development, and community service learning.

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Published

2013-08-15

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Articles: Empirical Research

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