Evaluating the Impact of Neurosurgical Rotation Experience in Africa on the Interest and Perception of Medical Students Towards a Career in Neurosurgery: A Continental, Multi-Centre, Cross-Sectional Study

Frontiers in Surgery

article

Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada¹  Setthasorn Zhi Yang Ooi²  George William Bukenya³  Yves Jordan Kenfack⁴  Chi Le⁵  Efosa Ohonba⁶  Emmanuel Adeyemo⁴  Kapil Narain⁷  Ahmed K. Awad⁸  Umaru Barrie⁴  Dawin Sichimba⁹  Oloruntoba Ogunfolaji¹  Lilian Mwende Kitonga^1,10  Adaeze Juanita Oriaku^1,11  Michael A. Bamimore^1,12  Douglas Emeka Okor^1,13  Ola Rominiyi^1,14 

[1] College of Medicine, University of Ibadan;Cardiff University School of Medicine;Case Western Reserve University;University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center;Vanderbilt School of Medicine;Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town;Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal;Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University;Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University;College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi;Glan Clwyd Hospital;School of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine;Department of Neurosurgery, Garki Hospital;Department of Neurosurgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield

关键词: global neurosurgery;    clinical rotation;    medical students;    medical education;    training;    Africa;    interest;    perception;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fsurg.2022.766325

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Objective Africa has the second highest neurosurgical workforce deficit globally and many medical students in Africa lack exposure to the field. This study aims to assess the impact of a neurosurgical rotation during medical school in shaping the perception and interest of students toward a career in neurosurgery. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods A Google form e-survey was disseminated to African clinical medical students between February 21st and March 20th, 2021. Data on exposure and length of neurosurgical rotation and perception of, and interest in, neurosurgery were collected. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and adjusted logistic regression modeling. Results Data was received from 539 students in 30 African countries (30/54, 55.6%). The majority of participants were male and were from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Most students had undertaken a formal neurosurgery rotation, of which the majority reported a rotation length of 4 weeks or less. Students who had more than 4 weeks of neurosurgical exposure were more likely to express a career interest in neurosurgery than those without [odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, p < 0.04] and men were more likely to express interest in a neurosurgical career compared to women (OR = 3.22, p < 0.001), after adjusting for other factors. Conclusion Neurosurgical exposure is a key determinant in shaping the perception and interest of medical students toward a career in neurosurgery. Our findings support the need: i) for a continent-wide, standardized curriculum guide to neurosurgical rotations and ii) to advocate for gender inclusivity in education and policy-making efforts across the African continent.

【 授权许可】

CC BY