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Background: As the Fundamentals of Research and Career Development Course (FRCDC) is conducted internationally, questions have arisen regarding the cultural appropriateness of the United States (US) course. We therefore assessed the US-based teaching methodology during the FRCDC in Abuja, Nigeria. We hypothesized that the US-based instructional methods would be effective., Methods: Twenty questions were distributed to attendees of the FRCDC prior to commencement. The same 20 questions were administered at the conclusion of the course after random reordering. Differences between the pre- and post-test results were assessed for normalcy and compared using the paired t-test., Results: There were 89 attendees, of whom 60 completed the pre-test and 77 completed the post-test. The pre-test group answered 12.3 ± 2.6 questions correctly, which improved to 15.0 ± 2.6 in the post-test group (P < 0.001). On the pre-test, the least common correct answers were for questions regarding type 1 and 2 error (16.7% correct), the definition of health services and outcomes research (26.7%), and how to best address missing data (26.7%). On the post-test, the questions with the least common correct answers were regarding the definition of health services and outcomes research (35%), and the components of an NIH grant (37.7%)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the FRCDC in Nigeria as given by US faculty has short-term efficacy. Attendees were able to improve their scores despite the cultural differences between them and the lecturers. Our next goal will be to demonstrate long-term efficacy at future courses in the region using similar questionnaire strategies., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Our goal was to identify factors that can be targeted during medical education to encourage a career in surgery., Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of first and fourth year classes in a Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited medical school. Students scored 19 items about perceptions of surgery using a Likert-type scale. Students also indicated their gender and ranked their top three career choices., Results: There were 121 of 210 (58%) first year and 110 of 212 (52%) fourth year students who completed the survey. First year students expressed a positive correlation between surgery and career opportunities, intellectual challenge, performing technical procedures, and obtaining a residency position, although length of training, work hours, and lifestyle during and after training were negatively correlated with choosing surgery. Fourth year student responses correlated positively with career and academic opportunities, intellectual challenge, technical skills, role models, prestige, and financial rewards. Factors that correlated negatively were length of training, residency lifestyle, hours, call schedule, and female gender of the student respondent. Forty-four percent of first year male students expressed an interest in surgery versus 27% of fourth year male students (p < 0.04). Eighteen percent of first year female students expressed an interest in surgery versus 5% of fourth year female students (p < 0.006)., Conclusions: Lifestyle issues remain at the forefront of student concerns. Intellectual challenge, career opportunities, and technical skills are consistently recognized as strengths of surgery. Additionally, fourth year students identify role models, prestige, and financial rewards as positive attributes. Emphasizing positive aspects may facilitate attracting quality students to future careers in surgery.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine how preclinical medical students formulate their career choice and to determine the origin of negative perceptions regarding surgery as a career., Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was performed with second-year medical students voluntarily participating in focus group study. Students with and without an interest in surgery attended. Topics discussed included factors influencing career choice, priorities, perceptions, exposure, and interactions with surgeons. Three investigators conducted independent content analysis., Results: Career choices for students interested in surgery originated primarily from premedical school experiences/interactions with surgeons. In contrast, students not interested in surgery made career choices during medical school and choices were shaped primarily by second-year preceptors. The main priority for students interested in surgery was personal happiness that was perceived as being significantly dependent upon career satisfaction. Students not interested in surgery tended to separate happiness derived from career versus family. Negative perceptions toward surgery were developed and reinforced by media, preceptors, and classmates. All students had minimal exposure to surgeons during preclinical years and generally agreed that increased involvement with surgeons would be beneficial, particularly through preclinical preceptorships., Conclusions: Career choices of preclinical students interested in surgery were made prior to entering medical school, suggesting that outreach programs to high schools and colleges may beneficial. Negative perceptions about surgery develop through a variety of sources, including fellow classmates, preceptors, and the media. Surgeons need to take responsibility for these perceptions.

Background: General surgery training programs are experiencing an alarming decrease in applicants. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether exposing students to surgery through a brief intervention early in their medical education could influence perceptions toward surgery as a career choice., Methods: First-year medical students were asked to rank 19 items coded on a Likert-type scale from 1 (not important) to 8 (very important) regarding their beliefs about surgery as a career both before and after a brief 1-h intervention with a panel of surgeons. Each panelist spoke about his or her professional and personal lives, followed by a question and answer period. Survey data were analyzed by Wilcoxon sign-rank and Spearman rank correlation., Results: Of 210 first year students, 121 (58%) students voluntarily attended and completed the presurvey and 94 (45%) the post, of which 82 were matched responses. Preintervention responses revealed that career opportunities, intellectual challenge, and the ability to obtain a residency position were positively correlated with surgery (P < 0.007) whereas length of training, lifestyle during residency, lifestyle after training, and work hours during residency were negatively correlated (P < 0.01). The following factors were significantly influenced by the intervention: academic opportunities, patient relationships, prestige, and gender distribution became more important whereas concern about debt and length of training became less important., Conclusions: Positive encounters with surgeons can favorably influence the perceptions of first-year medical students toward a career in surgery. In addition to addressing lifestyle issues, surgeons can and must make a concerted effort to interact with medical students early in their education and foster their interest throughout their career.