Impact of a Hands-on Pre-Clinical Neurosurgery Elective Course on Second-Year Medical Student Interest and Attitudes

Abstract

Introduction: Medical student involvement opportunities and educational experiences with surgical residents during medical school have been shown to increase the chance of students deciding to specialize in surgical specialties. This study aims to determine the effect of a neurosurgery elective during the second preclinical year on student interest and opinion of neurosurgery. Methods: Thirty-nine students completed opinion-based surveys and factual knowledge quizzes during a neurosurgical elective course over 3 iterations, which included lecture and skills lab instruction. Pre- and post-course surveys used the Likert scale, with a score of 1 corresponding to the most negative opinion and a score of 10 corresponding to the most positive opinion, in order to measure various aspects including interest in neurological surgery, understanding of the field, and perception of female inclusion in the field. Weekly pre- and post-lecture quizzes assessed practical knowledge of neurosurgical topics. Results: A higher percentage of students rated neurosurgery highly as a career possibility (⩾8/10 interest level) post-course (58.6%) compared to pre-course (45.7%). Post-course, students reported a significantly increased mean understanding of neurosurgery on the Likert scale compared to pre-course (6.1 ± 1.7 vs 4.4 ± 2.0; P = .001). Knowledge based-content assessment revealed a significant increase in overall correct answers after lectures (meanpre = 3.85, meanpost = 5.05, P = .001). Inclusion of female instructors in the second and third iteration of the course resulted in a significant increase in students’ perception of female inclusion in the field of neurosurgery (7.6 compared to 5.6, P = .01). Conclusions: Early exposure to subspecialties may assist in making important career decisions. The implementation of this neurosurgical elective improved medical students’ perception of the field and enhanced knowledge of the lectures and procedures. This study can be used as a framework for implementation of this curriculum at other institutions.

Factors affecting the choice of becoming a neurosurgeon in the western region of Saudi Arabia

“…That mentioned, such exposure may aid in waving the frequently overestimated negative assumptions on neurosurgical specialty, especially in institutes which were primary care and nonsurgical specialties are being emphasized on during the medical students’ early clinical years. [ 18 , 21 ] In our study, we found that medical students with closer exposure to neurosurgery had a rather better understanding the specialty and were more likely to have neurosurgery as their career choice. Around 6% of all study participants had a more dedicated exposure to the neurosurgery in the form of attending neurosurgical conferences and were involved in neurosurgery-related research projects, and this correlated with statistical significance to interest in neurosurgery.…”

Hands-on neuroendovascular practice for nonselective undergraduate medical students increases interest and aspirations in pursuing neurosurgery as a specialization

“…According to previous studies, early exposure of students to cadaver practice, surgery, and hands-on practice modules effectively increases their interest in neurosurgery. [4][5][6][7][8]11,13,18] Furthermore, most of these exposures were targeted at students who volunteered to participate or were already interested in neurosurgery. While such focused education is effective, Zoli et al suggested that neurosurgical education and training should involve all students.…”

The role of limited access to students from more diverse nonfeeder medical schools in creating diversity inequities in neurosurgical residency

“…24 A last example is the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, which instituted a preclinical elective course for 2nd-year students that was designed by residents, senior students, and attendings. 25 This course was correlated with higher chances of choosing neurosurgery as a career, an increased understanding of the discipline, and higher knowledge scores after the elective. 25 The opportunities these schools have provided to network, perform research, and learn about the field and more is priceless when preparing a residency application.…”

“…25 This course was correlated with higher chances of choosing neurosurgery as a career, an increased understanding of the discipline, and higher knowledge scores after the elective. 25 The opportunities these schools have provided to network, perform research, and learn about the field and more is priceless when preparing a residency application. However, since Black/African American medical student enrollment is lower at these feeder programs, many Black/African American medical students do not have these connections or possibilities to improve their residency application to neurosurgery.…”