ReviewBMC medical education2025
Exploring what works in mental health education for health profession students: a realist review.
Review in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Embedding structural and social determinants of cardiovascular health into medical education: a systematic review of pedagogical frameworks.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Case-based learning (CBL) in undergraduate health professions education: A realist review.Medical education · 2026Review
- Co-creating mental health education with students: a qualitative case study in pharmacy.International journal of clinical pharmacy · 2026Article
- Mental health placements for health and social care students: A realist synthesis.Medical education · 2026Review
- Designing interdisciplinary education in digital public health: a position paper.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Student-led implementation of Mental Health First Aid training in undergraduate medical education.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMental health education is essential for preparing healthcare professionals to address the growing needs of patients with mental health challenges. The aim of this study was to understand the current landscape of teaching and learning approaches to mental health education for undergraduate health profession students. METHODOLOGY: A realist review was chosen to explore what works for whom, how, and why in teaching and learning for mental health education for undergraduate health profession students. The search strategy was developed iteratively, with support from a research librarian, and additional searches supplemented the initial search. Following screening in duplicate, the selected studies were appraised for relevance, richness and rigour. Intervention (I), Context (C), Actor (A), Mechanism (M) and Outcome (O) configurations were extracted from the data and analysed for patterns and conceptual areas. Stakeholder and Patient and Public Involvement panels supported the refinement of both the Initial Programme Theory (IPT) and Programme Theories (PT).
results78 articles were included. The results identified three critical program theories: (1) direct contact with individuals with lived experience (2), longitudinal and integrative learning approach, and (3) diversity of experiential and community-engaged learning. Integrating these theories into health education curricula may lead to professionals better prepared to address mental health challenges.
conclusionOur realist review identified three critical programme theories for teaching and learning strategies that foster this literacy, including direct engagement with individuals who have lived experiences, a longitudinal and integrative approach to education, and a diverse array of experiential and community-engaged learning opportunities.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.