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. 2022 Feb 10:9:766325.
doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.766325. eCollection 2022.

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

Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada  1 , Setthasorn Zhi Yang Ooi  2 , George William Bukenya  3 , Yves Jordan Kenfack  4 , Chi Le  5 , Efosa Ohonba  6 , Emmanuel Adeyemo  4 , Kapil Narain  7 , Ahmed K Awad  8 , Umaru Barrie  4 , Dawin Sichimba  9 , Oloruntoba Ogunfolaji  1 , Lilian Mwende Kitonga  10 , Adaeze Juanita Oriaku  11 , Michael A Bamimore  12 , Douglas Emeka Okor  13 , Ola Rominiyi  14   15
Affiliations

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

Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada et al. Front Surg. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Africa; clinical rotation; global neurosurgery; interest; medical education; medical students; perception; training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bar chart showing the age and gender distribution of the participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Continental heat map of African countries and number of students that responded to the survey.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Bar chart showing the duration of clinical neurosurgical rotation, in weeks, of the respondents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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