Background Currently, Ghana has 14 actively practicing psychiatrists and about 26 psychiatric residents for a population of over 28 million people. Previous research suggests a lack of interest by Ghanaian medical students and medical graduates in considering psychiatry as a career option. Objectives To examine the perception of medical students and psychiatry residents in Ghana about the barriers which hinder Ghanaian medical graduates from choosing careers in psychiatry and how these barriers could be overcome. Methods This was a cross-sectional qualitative study with data gathered using focus group discussion. Twenty clinical year medical students were selected through block randomization from the four public medical schools in Ghana and invited to participate in one of two focus group discussions. Also, four psychiatric residents were invited to participate in the focus group discussions. Results The main barriers identified by participants could be grouped under four main themes, namely: (a) myths and stigma surrounding mental health and patients, (b) negative perceptions of psychiatrists, (c) infrastructure and funding issues, (d) lack of exposure and education. To address the barriers presented, participants discussed potential solutions that could be categorized into five main themes, namely: (a) stigma reduction, (b) educating professionals, (c) addressing deficient infrastructure, (d) risk management, and (e) incentivizing the pursuit of psychiatry among students. Conclusion Health policy planners and medical training institutions could consider implementing proposed solutions to identify barriers as part of efforts to improve the psychiatrist to patient ratio in Ghana.

中文翻译：

---

影响加纳医学生和精神病学住院医师将精神病学作为职业选择的因素——一项定性研究

背景 目前，加纳有 14 名积极执业的精神科医生和大约 26 名精神科住院医师，人口超过 2800 万。先前的研究表明，加纳医学生和医学毕业生对将精神病学作为职业选择缺乏兴趣。目的 调查加纳医学生和精神病学住院医师对阻碍加纳医学毕业生选择精神病学职业的障碍的看法，以及如何克服这些障碍。方法 这是一项横断面定性研究，使用焦点小组讨论收集数据。从加纳的四所公立医学院通过区组随机化选择了 20 名临床年的医学生，并受邀参加两个焦点小组讨论中的一个。还，四名精神病住院医师被邀请参加焦点小组讨论。结果 参与者确定的主要障碍可分为四个主题，即：(a) 围绕心理健康和患者的神话和污名，(b) 对精神科医生的负面看法，(c) 基础设施和资金问题，(d) 缺乏曝光和教育。为了解决所提出的障碍，与会者讨论了可分为五个主题的潜在解决方案，即：(a) 减少污名，(b) 教育专业人员，(c) 解决基础设施不足，(d) 风险管理，以及 (e)鼓励学生对精神病学的追求。