Comparison of the British and Nigerian Medical Councils’ Codes of Practice: Implications for Postgraduate Medical Training

Abstract

Recruitment into psychiatry training has benefitted from the willingness of International medical graduates opting to go into psychiatry training. However, in the process of acculturation, international medical graduates face numerous challenges. One of these is the adaptation of medical professionalism from home country to new training environment. Comparison of Medical Codes of Practice of Great Britain and Nigeria showed differences in emphasis in areas such as medical record keeping, risk management, multidisciplinary collaboration, communication needs, relationships with patients & colleagues and financial affairs. It is predictable that on moving medical practice from one medical jurisdiction to another, international medical graduates encounter unique challenges. There is a need for proper attention to the assimilation of international medical graduates into newer practice settings with targeted interventions.