Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026
Creation of Patient-Specific Silicone Cardiac Models with Applications in Pre-surgical Plans and Hands-on Training
Published on: February 10, 2022
Bridging the Gap: Exploring Factors Influencing Medical Students' Interest in Cardiac Surgery in Africa
Samuel Ghislain Junior Fodop1, Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal2, Achanga BillSmith Anyinkeng3
1School of Health and Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon.
Insights
African medical students show interest in cardiac surgery, but limited local training opportunities lead many to seek careers abroad. Enhancing training and mentorship is crucial to build the cardiac surgical workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Specialties
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global health burden.
- Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a critical shortage of cardiac surgeons and limited access to cardiac surgical care.
- Understanding medical students' career aspirations is vital for addressing workforce deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the career aspirations of African medical students.
- To identify factors influencing their interest in various specialties, particularly cardiac surgery.
- To inform strategies for developing the cardiac surgical workforce in SSA.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 807 medical students from African medical schools.
- Data collected via a validated online questionnaire in English, French, and Arabic.
- Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses were used to examine sociodemographic characteristics, career preferences, and influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Surgery was the most preferred specialty (34.3%), with 11.8% interested in cardiac surgery.
- Curriculum inclusion and exposure to cardiac patients positively influenced interest.
- However, hospital-based exposure to cardiac surgery and presence of functional units negatively impacted interest; 71.4% planned overseas postgraduate studies.
Conclusions:
- A notable interest in cardiac surgery exists among African medical students.
- Targeted interventions, including curriculum enhancement and improved training environments, are needed.
- Strengthening local postgraduate training and addressing systemic barriers are essential for building a sustainable cardiac surgery workforce in Africa.
Background:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) facing a severe shortage of cardiac surgeons (0.12 per million people) and limited access to cardiac surgical care. This study explores the career aspirations of African medical students and examines the factors influencing their interest in pursuing various career paths and cardiac surgery in particular.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 807 medical students from various African medical schools. Data were collected using a validated online questionnaire available in English, French, and Arabic. Sociodemographic characteristics, career aspirations, specialty preferences, and factors influencing career choices were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistical methods.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 22.79 ± 2.99 years, with a nearly equal gender distribution (51.2% male, 48.8% female). Surgery was the most preferred specialty (34.3%), cardiac surgery was chosen by 11.8% of participants, and 0.5% chose cardiothoracic surgery. The inclusion of cardiac surgery in the curriculum (p = 0.046) and exposure to cardiac patients (p = 0.034) positively influenced career interest. However, the presence of functional cardiac surgery units in teaching hospitals was negatively associated with pursuing the specialty (p = 0.032). Additionally, hospital-based exposure to cardiac surgery significantly reduced interest in cardiac surgery (p < 0.001) as specialty choice. A majority (71.4%) intended to pursue postgraduate studies abroad, citing limited local opportunities.
Conclusion:
The level of interest in cardiac surgery among African medical students highlights the need for targeted interventions, including curriculum reforms, improved training environments, and structured mentorship programs to translate this interest into cardiac surgical workforce. Strengthening local postgraduate training capacity and addressing systemic barriers are crucial steps in building a sustainable cardiac surgery workforce in Africa, ultimately helping to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases across the continent.
More Related Videos
05:04Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
08:49Author Spotlight: Enhancing Graft Viability Assessment Through Quantitative Metrics and Innovative Reservoir Systems
Published on: August 2, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:28Factors affecting Blood pressure
Physiological Factors:
01:29Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
01:30Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care