Author: Olawoye OA , Agbo DO, Bassi AS

Manuscript ID: AFMJ-Aug-2024-70058 Date Published: 2024-01-10 11:44:06

Background:

Anaesthesia manpower in Nigeria is grossly inadequate. Fewer doctors apply for residency training in Anaesthesia compared to other specialties.

Methods:

A simple questionnaire was administered between March and April 2018 to 5th and 6th year medical students of the University of Jos who had done postings in Anaesthesia as part of their medical school curriculum. The questionnaire covered biodata, duration of Anaesthesia posting and areas of interest in residency training.

Results:

Seventy-four 5th year and one hundred and nineteen 6th year medical students responded to the questionnaire (total of 193). None of the 5th year students indicated interest in Anaesthesia training. Ten (8.4 %) of the 6th year students indicated interest in Anaesthesia residency training. Of the 193 students, only 10 (5.18 %) showed interest in Anaesthesia. The number of students who showed interest in other specialties are as follows: Surgery – 50 (25.90%), Obstetrics/Gynaecology – 25 (12.95%), Internal Medicine -24(12.43%), Paediatrics – 23 (11.91%), Community Medicine – 27 (13.98%), Others – 32 (16.58%), and Undecided – 2 (1.03%). Conclusion: The results show an alarming trend in a system that already has inadequate number of physician Anaesthetists. A lot has to be done in advocacy and capacity building for Anaesthesia training. It will be good to make teaching more interesting for medical students with the use of videos and simulation laboratories where students can have hands-on experience.

Conclusion:

Because of its rarity in children and the risk of significant morbidity when missed, surgeons should always bear in mind the possibility of sliding hernia particularly when a thick sac is encountered during inguinal herniotomy.

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