Duke University Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Duke University Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke University Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
World Neurosurg. 2024 May;185:e44-e56. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.11.040. Epub 2023 Nov 17.
Despite the well-known neurosurgical workforce deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa, there remains a low number of neurosurgical training programs in Nigeria. This study sought to reassess the current status of specialist neurosurgical training in the country.
An electronic survey was distributed to all consultant neurosurgeons and neurosurgery residents in Nigeria. Demographic information and questions relating to the content, process, strengths, and challenges of neurosurgical training were explored as part of a broader survey assessing neurosurgical capacity. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.
Respondents identified 15 neurosurgical training centers in Nigeria. All 15 are accredited by the West African College of Surgeons, and 6 by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. The average duration of core neurosurgical training was 5 years. Some identified strengths of Nigerian neurosurgical training included learning opportunities provided to residents, recent growth in the neurosurgical training capacity, and satisfaction with training. Challenges included a continued low number of training programs compared to the population density, lack of subspecialty training programs, and inadequate training infrastructure.
Despite the high number of neurosurgery training centers in Nigeria, compared to other West African countries, the programs are still limited in number and capacity. Although this study shows apparent trainee satisfaction with the training process and contents, multiple challenges exist. Efforts at improving training capacity should focus on continuing the development and expansion of current programs, commencing subspecialty training, driving health insurance to improve funding, and increasing available infrastructure for training.
尽管撒哈拉以南非洲地区的神经外科劳动力明显短缺，但尼日利亚的神经外科培训项目仍然很少。本研究旨在重新评估该国神经外科专科培训的现状。
向尼日利亚所有顾问神经外科医生和神经外科住院医师分发了电子调查。调查内容包括人口统计学信息以及与神经外科培训内容、过程、优势和挑战相关的问题，这是一项评估神经外科能力的更广泛调查的一部分。采用描述性统计方法进行分析。
受访者确定了尼日利亚的 15 个神经外科培训中心。所有 15 个培训中心均由西非外科学院认可，其中 6 个由尼日利亚国家研究生医学院认可。核心神经外科培训的平均时长为 5 年。尼日利亚神经外科培训的一些优势包括为住院医师提供的学习机会、神经外科培训能力的近期增长以及对培训的满意度。挑战包括与人口密度相比培训项目数量仍然较少、缺乏专科培训项目以及培训基础设施不足。
尽管与其他西非国家相比，尼日利亚的神经外科培训中心数量较多，但数量和能力仍然有限。尽管这项研究表明培训过程和内容明显受到学员的欢迎，但仍存在多个挑战。提高培训能力的努力应侧重于继续发展和扩大现有项目、开展专科培训、推动医疗保险以改善资金、并增加培训基础设施。
