Is the duration of Residency training of Nigerian doctors adequate, prolonged or inadequate?
Any studies to prove that long duration of training correlate with a higher quality of the resultant specialists ?
what is the duration of residency in Nigeria?
We have 2 years residency after MBChB. there was a few years of trial of 1 year, but it gives a negative outcome.
Dear Ikenna
Thanks
I think it is difficult to answer this question.The quality of training has a major role as I believe.
The postgraduate internal medicine training, and other major specialties, in Iraq has a 4 year training program.
You may get some answers in the following study
Article A systematic review of the effects of residency training on ...
Best wishes
Ali Almothaffar
Duration of residency is specialty dependent and varies by the scope of the competencies expected from the specialist after the training. I think the shortest residency duration may be 4 years.
I am not aware of any study that had tested the effect of duration of training on the quality of the trainee; such study promises to be very revealing, if well designed.
The duration of residency training in Nigeria is speciality dependent ranging from 4 to 6 years. The duration in each specialty is carefully chosen putting into consideration the scope of that specialty to cover. Skill acquisition especially in surgical related specialties is very important. A surgical resident needs to acquire surgical skills and proficiency is duration and no of cases done or assisted dependant.
As to whether the current duration is short or long? IN MY opinion I think the current duration is optimal evidence to support my opinion is with the fact that our products are not doing badly within and outside the country after training in Nigeria. Some excel outside the country when exposed to better enabling environment. I have not come across clear published evidence on the duration of residency however, we have witnessed that those that overstay in residency turn out to be better skillfuly because of prolonged exposure to skill acquisition and training compared to their colleagues that pass their exams at once.
It is dependent to the specialty, but tend to last for 4-6 years as international standards
With the new Medical Residency Training Act,
the duration is now six years except for some surgical specialties