The prospect of anatomy as a career choice among clinical year medical students in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Medical doctors are potential important source of anatomy teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the choice of anatomy as a career option among medical students in a Nigerian medical school Method: Descriptive survey of second-and third-year medical students using a self-administered questionnaire to asses age, sex, perception of anatomy as a subject, anatomy training experience and choice of anatomy as a career among respondents. Analysis was conducted using the SPSS and statistical signifi cance inferred at P<0.05. Results: Three hundred and fi fty three (85.3% response rate) who completely fi lled questionnaire were returned and analyzed of which 195 (55.2%) were males and 158(44.8%) were females. Their ages ranged between 18 and 37 years with a mean of 22.4 ± 9.9 years. Although most students agreed that anatomy was an important subject in medical sciences 346 (98%), they had benefi ted from anatomy training in their clinical classes 320 (90.7%), and the knowledge of anatomy is useful in investigating patients with certain diseases 251 (71.1%), only 22 (6.2%) would choose anatomy as a career. Male students were more likely to choose anatomy as a career (P=0.026). Textbooks were the most common 334 (94.5%), while radiological means were the least 23 (6.5%) method employed in learning anatomy. Conclusion: Anatomy as a subject is perceived positively by clinical medical students, but the choice as a career option is low; attempt at increasing career interest is needful.

Medical Students' vs. Consultant Surgeons' View of Anatomy Knowledge

“…A minority of the students expressed their intent to pursuit a career in anatomy, which has been noticed in other studies (Onakpoya et al, 2009).…”

Influences on anatomical knowledge: The complete arguments

“…In the current literature, scant attention is paid to improving the prospects of teachers who wish to pursue a career in anatomy. Results from studies in India and Nigeria show that scarcity of job opportunities and of adequate research facilities make nonclinical teaching specialties such as anatomy far less attractive as career options than clinical specialties (Anand et al, ; Onakpoya et al, ). It is striking that Indian students interested in becoming anatomists expressed a wish for a formal course in teaching (Anand et al, ).…”

What factors motivate male and female Generation Z students to become engaged as peer teachers? A mixed‐method study among medical and dental students in the gross anatomy course

“…Additionally, sex differences in the context of peer-teaching or career aspiration have been previously reported (Onakpoya et al, 2009;Becker et al, 2015;Walser et al, 2017;Agius et al, 2018). In Ulm, men have applied more frequently to become a peer-teacher in the past than women.…”