Socio-academic profile of medical students at the university of Lomé and their perceptions of the quality of their training.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the socio-academic profile of medical students at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Lomé in Togo and their perceptions of the quality of their training.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 24, 2021, to August 24, 2021, and included second- to eighth-year medical students enrolled at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Lomé from 2020 to 2021. Data were collected electronically via a Google Form and physically on paper and analysed via SPSS version 24 and Microsoft Excel version.

RESULTS

701 students participated in the study (corresponding to a response rate of 63.4%), 600 (85.6%) were Togolese. There were 70.2% males among the participants, with a scientific baccalaureate in mathematics and natural sciences (77.3%) or in mathematics and physical sciences (22.7%). Their average age upon entering medical school was 17.9 years ± 1.1. Only 4.1% had a parent (father or mother) who was a physician. The main motivations for pursuing medical studies included passion for medicine (57.1%), the materialisation of a childhood dream (39.1%), and social prestige (19.8%). A significant proportion (86.5%) deemed the number of students selected for the first year inadequate compared to available slots, whereas approximately 70% found the number of students admitted in the second year excessive relative to training capacity. The atmospheric conditions in first-year classrooms were rated poorly by 58.9% of the students. The probability of success was significantly greater for students with a baccalaureate in mathematics and physical sciences and those who obtained at least a good grade in the baccalaureate (p˂0.05). The hospital-university framework was considered unsuitable for adequate theoretical and practical training by 74.3% of the students. However, 81.6% rated the supervision of hospital internships as average or good. More than half of the surveyed students (58.2%) wished to take the hospital internship exam, and 55.8% considered pursuing an academic career.

CONCLUSION

Medical students at the University of Lomé had a varied profile and a mixed perception of the quality of their training. Efforts need to be made by all stakeholders to provide better training for students.