Carving a Path to the Brain: A Study on Neurosurgery Career Choices.

World Neurosurg

Registrar Neurosurgery, Brain Surgery Hospital; Research Fellow at Violence, Injury Prevention and Disability Unit, Health Services Academy, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Published: August 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • Medical students often struggle with choosing a career in specialized fields like neurosurgery due to limited exposure and knowledge, making it crucial to understand their perceptions and experiences.
  • A study involving 461 medical students highlighted that many felt neurosurgery education was insufficient, with varied opinions on the challenges and complexities related to neurosurgical diseases.
  • Improving neurosurgical education is essential for inspiring future neurosurgeons, with recommendations including enhancing the quality and consistency of training programs to better prepare students for the healthcare workforce.

Article Abstract

Background: Medical students often face challenges in choosing a career path due to limited exposure to specialized fields like neurosurgery. Understanding their perceptions and experiences is crucial in addressing the gaps in neurosurgical education and inspiring future neurosurgeons.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 461 medical students, utilizing convenience sampling. Data collection employed a validated, self-administered tool. Statistical analysis in SPSS Version 25 included t-tests and chi-square tests, comparing scores based on age, gender, year of study, and exposure to the formal neurosurgical rotations in their institute. Significance value was set at P < 0.05.

Results: In the study of 461 medical students, 79.8% identified with the 19-23 age group, and 63.8% affirmed neurosurgery exposure. Medical students' perceptions included: 167 (36.3%) students found neurosurgery teaching sufficient; 164 (35.6%) disagreed that obtaining neurosurgical history is difficult; 224 (48.6%) agreed on neurosurgical disease complexity; and 250 (54.2%) found these diseases challenging and interesting. A majority of 183 (39.7%) respondents agreed that neurosurgical diseases had poor outcomes. Regarding training for neurosurgical surgery, 205 (44.5%) participants strongly agreed on its length, and 215 (46.7%) consented to extensive operating hours. However, 167 (36.3%) strongly disagreed about the ample job prospects in Pakistan.

Conclusions: Enhancing neurosurgery education with quality, consistency, and adaptability is essential to bridge gaps and inspire future neurosurgeons. These findings guide improvements in educational programs, preparing a skilled workforce to meet evolving health-care demands.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2024.05.126DOI Listing

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