Surgical Resident Doctor's Perspective of Their Training in the Southeast Region of Nigeria

There are several problems militating against satisfactory residency training in Nigeria. These problems may not be effectively identified and resolved if the opinion of the trainee doctors is ignored.

To review surgical residents' perspectives of their training program in South-eastern Nigeria, with the aim of suggesting evidence-based innovative changes to enable the programs meet global trends and standards.

A total of 90 semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaires were evenly distributed (30 per hospital) to the surgical residents at three tertiary healthcare facilities in South-eastern Nigeria. Information sought included sociodemographic variables, level in the residency training, rating of program and different aspects, learning environments/opportunities, and suggestions on ways to improve either part or overall program.

Analysis of 56 properly completed questionnaires (response rate=62.2%) shows that the respondents were aged 29 to 53 years [mean(SD) = 35.3(1.7)], mostly males (91.1%) and junior residents (75%). A significant majority of residents (47 or 83.8%) rated the surgical residency training in their respective centers as inadequate. Grand rounds were roundly criticized as having misplaced objectives and tending toward fault-finding by Consultants. Suggested interventions for improvement included enhanced supervision/mentoring/teaching by senior colleagues, inclusion of didactic lecture sessions, research trainings, and foreign postings.

There exist gaps between expectations of surgical residents and the training offered. These create needed support for an evidenced-based review of surgical residency training program to enable it meet the aspirations of trainees and the ever-changing trend in Medicine. More studies on surgical residents covering other regions of Nigeria, and including the trainers (Consultants), will be of immense value.