Nigerian Medical Students Research Articles

Stature estimation from footprint dimensions in an adult Nigerian student population

Examination of footprints provides important evidence in crime scene investigations and helps in stature prediction of criminals. This study aimed to derive regression equations and multiplication factors for stature estimation from footprint dimensions in adult Nigerian medical students of the University of Lagos. Using an ink pad and a stadiometer, bilateral footprints and stature, respectively, were obtained from 230 subjects (100 males and 130 females) of Nigerian ancestry, aged 18-36 years upon satisfaction of the inclusion criteria and full written consent. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Sexual dimorphism in stature and footprint dimensions was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) with males having greater values than the females. Analyses of bilateral asymmetry indicated significant left footprint preponderance (P < 0.05). There exist positive significant correlations (P < 0.05) between stature and footprint dimensions (T.1-T.5 lengths, breadth at ball [BAB], and breadth at heel [BAH]) in the males, females, and the pooled sample, with the only exception being the right and left breadths at heel in the males (r = 0.112 and 0.183, respectively). The right and left T.2 lengths exhibited the highest correlation with stature in the males, females, and the pooled sample with values of 0.704 and 0.703, 0.749 and 0.736, and 0.853 and 0.848, respectively. Footprint dimensions are significantly correlated with stature, with the footprint length (T.1-T.5) dimensions showing more reliability and accuracy in stature prediction than the footprint breadth (BAH and BAB) dimensions.

Derivation of Regression Equations for Stature Reconstruction from Digit Lengths of Nigerian Medical Students in University of Lagos

Identification of an individual using stature is of great significance in forensic practice. With the increasing frequency of natural and man-influenced disasters, it has become imperative for forensic anthropologists to establish population-specific forensic reference standards. This study aimed to derive predictive equations for stature estimation using five digit lengths. A sample of 230 medical students (100 males and 130 females) of Nigerian parentage, aged 18 to 36 years was recruited for this research. Stature and digit lengths were measured following standard procedures, followed by statistical analysis using SPSS (Version 20 Chicago Inc). Results of descriptive showed average stature of 176.36 ± 8.13cm, 164.38 ± 6.62cm and 169.59 ± 8.79cm for males, females and pooled sample respectively. Sexual dimorphism was observed to be statistically significant (P 99% . Digits correlation with stature from this study may be of great relevance in human identification. Keywords: Forensic Sciences; Human Identification; Stature; Digits; Nigerians.

Must we remain blind to undergraduate medical ethics education in Africa? A cross-sectional study of Nigerian medical students

BackgroundAs the practice of medicine inevitably raises both ethical and legal issues, it had been recommended since 1999 that medical ethics and human rights be taught at every medical school. Most Nigerian medical schools still lack a formal undergraduate medical ethics curriculum. Medical education remains largely focused on traditional medical science components, leaving the medical students to develop medical ethical decision-making skills and moral attitudes passively within institutions noted for relatively strong paternalistic traditions.In conducting a needs assessment for developing a curriculum germane to the Nigerian society, and by extension most of Sub-Saharan Africa, this study determined the views of Nigerian medical students on medical ethics education, ethical issues related to the doctor-patient relationship and the ethical/professional dilemmas they are confronted with.MethodsUsing self-administered 63-item structured questionnaires, a cross-sectional survey of the final year medical students of the University of Nigeria was conducted in July 2015.Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS Version 17), frequency counts and percentages were generated.ResultsThe sample included 100 males (71.4%) and 40 females (28.6%), with the respective mean (SD) age being 24.6(5.61) and 21.8 (6.38) years. Only 35.7% were satisfied with their medical ethics knowledge, and 97.9% indicated that medical ethics should be taught formally. Only 8.6% had never witnessed a medical teacher act unethically. The dilemmas of poor communication between physicians and patients, and the provision of sub-standard care were reported highest for being encountered ‘often’. A majority (60.7%) indicated that “a doctor should do his best always, irrespective of the patient’s wishes”. No significant difference in responses across gender was noted.ConclusionThere is a strong desire by the contemporary Nigerian medical student for medical ethics education. Their lack of exposure in medical ethics in an ethically challenging environment suggest a dire need for the development of an appropriate medical ethics curriculum for them and the provision of an ethically conducive learning environment.

Prevalence and correlates of obsessive–compulsive symptoms in a sample of undergraduate clinical medical students in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria

Background: Obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) may be common, yet, under-recognised and under-reported among medical students. Their presence is associated with other mental disorders which could have negative impacts on the academic functioning of medical students. Objectives: The objective is to assess the prevalence and correlates of OCS in a sample of Nigerian clinical medical students. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among 209 Nigerian medical students in their clinical training years. They completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale – 21 and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: The prevalence of OCS was 32.1%. Depression, anxiety and stress were present in 13.9%, 27.8% and 35.4% of the respondents, respectively. The presence of OCS was associated with stress, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem among the medical students. Conclusions: OCS is relatively common among clinical medical students. Their presence may worsen the difficulties experienced among medical students in the course of their training. There may be a need to be screening clinical medical students for the presence of OCS.

Recognition of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms and knowledge about some other aspects of ASD among final year medical students in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background Earlier studies suggest that knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among healthcare workers in Nigeria is low. This present study assessed the knowledge of Nigerian final year medical students about symptoms of ASD and some other aspects of ASD. This is a cross sectional descriptive study that drew a total of seven hundred and fifty-seven (757) final year medical students from ten (10) randomly selected fully accredited medical schools out of a total of twenty-seven (27) fully accredited medical schools in Nigeria. Sociodemographic and Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers (KCAHW) questionnaires were used to assess knowledge of final year medical students about ASD and obtain demographic information.ResultsOnly few, 218 (28.8 %) of the 757 final year medical students had seen and participated in evaluation and management of at least a child with ASD during their clinical postings in pediatrics and psychiatry. Knowledge and recognition of symptoms of ASD is observed to be better among this group of final year medical students as shown by higher mean scores in the four domains of KCAHW questionnaire. Knowledge about ASD varies across gender and regions. Misconceptions about ASD were also observed among the final year medical students.ConclusionsMore focus needs to be given to ASD in the curriculum of Nigerian undergraduate medical students, especially during their psychiatry and pediatric clinical postings.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1433-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Comparative study on drug safety surveillance between medical students of Malaysia and Nigeria.

BackgroundInternationally, there is a remarkable achievement in the areas of drug discovery, drug design, and clinical trials. New and efficient drug formulation techniques are widely available which have led to success in treatment of several diseases. Despite these achievements, large number of patients continue to experience adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and majority of them are yet to be on record.ObjectivesThe purpose of this survey is to compare knowledge, attitude, and practice with respect to ADRs and pharmacovigilance (PV) between medical students of Malaysia and Nigeria and to determine if there is a relationship between their knowledge and practice.MethodA cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey involving year IV and year V medical students of the Department of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin and Bayero University Kano was carried out. The questionnaire which comprised 25 questions on knowledge, attitude, and practice was adopted, modified, validated, and administered to them. The response was analyzed using SPSS version 20.ResultsThe response rate from each country was 74%. There was a statistically significant difference in mean knowledge and practice score on ADRs and PV between medical students of Malaysia and Nigeria, both at P<0.000. No significance difference in attitude was observed at P=0.389. Also, a statistically significant relationship was recorded between their knowledge and practice (r=0.229, P=0.001), although the relationship was weak.ConclusionNigerian medical students have better knowledge and practice than those of Malaysia, although they need improvement. Imparting knowledge of ADRs and PV among medical students will upgrade their practice and enhance health care delivery services in the future.

Nigerian Medical Students at Lagos State Universtity College of Medicine (LASUCOM) Learn With Information Communication Technology

IntroductionElectronics and information technology are now in most spheres of educational activities. This survey examines if Nigerian students at LASUCOM have joined the global trend.MethodsMedical students (2013/2014 session; first‐last years of MBBS Program) completed a 23‐question survey within 10min by marking one/more choices from alternatives. Instructions were: “Dear Participant, Please treat as confidential, give your true view, avoid influences, avoid crosstalk, return survey promptly.”ResultsOut of 301 students, 188 (62.46%) participated. Simple statistics gathered were: 73.7% liked e‐devices and considered them useful; 11% must always have electronics with them; they have laptops (64.4%), smart phones (62.7%), cell phones (43.6%), tablets (28.8%), desktops (2.2%), and ultrabooks (0.44%); during class they use smart phones (48%), cellphones (20.9%), tablets (19.6%), laptops (7.5%) and ultrabooks (0.89%); 5.8% started using electronics in primary school, 56% in secondary school, and 26.2%, 2.2%, 0.44%, and 0.44% in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of LASUCOM. Presently, to capture lectures 61.3% write in class, 58.67% collect lecturer's e‐file, actually 36% prefer to write. For schoolwork: 35.5% email classmates, 17% email lecturers; 61.8% phone classmates, 26.2% phone lecturers; 68% claimed electronics make school work easier, 29.3% claimed electronics help to enjoy work; 82% use the Internet for general information, 40.4% to add to lecture notes, 17.33% to answer exam questions.ConclusionThe students' electronics culture: 73.7% like electronics, &gt;60% possess laptops and smart phones, &gt;50% use electronics for lectures, studying, and communication – is a predictor of effective teaching and training styles.

Perception of Nigerian medical students on adverse drug reaction reporting.

Spontaneous reporting (SPR) and intensive monitoring are the conventional systems used for detecting, recording, and reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Using spontaneous reporting a lot of successes has been made as existing ADRs were identified and new ones prevented through this methods. The aim of this appraisal was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and the practice of medical students with regards to ADRs reporting and to see if differences exist between the level of study and genders. The questionnaire was adopted, modified, and validated from previous studies. It comprised of 25 questions. It was administered year-IV and V medical students of Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. The data collected were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, currently known as IBM SPSS Statistics. The response rate was 74%. Among the 108 participants, 80% got the definition of ADRs correct; 63% of them knew the precise functions of pharmacovigilance (PV). In addition, 82% strongly agreed that ADR reporting is health care workers responsibility; 82% also said PV should be taught in detail. Meanwhile, 99% have noticed patient experiencing ADRs; 67% said even mild ADRs should be reported. The outcome of this study showed good knowledge and attitude with respect to ADRs and PV among the medical students surveyed. Unfortunately, the practice of medical students was found to be unsatisfactory. There is a need to upgrade the students teaching the curriculum with respect to ADRs monitoring.

Neuroanatomy course: a nightmare for Nigerian medical students (719.16)

Appreciating basic neuro‐anatomy by medical students plays a vital role in their understanding of the pool of neurological diseases and illnesses found in Nigeria and sub‐Saharan Africa. This study was conducted to ascertain the perception of Nigerian medical students about neuro‐anatomy in comparison with other aspects of human anatomy course. The study participants are third year students from 2 medical schools in Northwestern Nigeria. Anonymous and voluntary questionnaire was distributed to the randomly selected participants. To date, out of the 120 questionnaires distributed, a total of 116 have been completed and returned. Information obtained has been entered into Microsoft Excel Worksheet after which relevant descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied. Preliminary findings from the completed and returned questionnaires, revealed that majority of the medical students perceived neuro‐anatomy course as the most difficult aspect of human anatomy. So far, 60% of the respondents consider poor teaching methodology employed by the neuro‐anatomy tutors as the main reason for their negative perception and suggested the use of models as well as teaching aids to enhance learning. This study would probably give a hint as to why most medical graduates never considered picking up careers in neurology or neuroscience related fields, thus making it difficult to address the health challenges noticed in these fields of endeavors.

Nigerian Medical Students' Opinions About the Undergraduate Curriculum in Psychiatry

The number of psychiatrists in Nigeria is inadequate to meet the treatment needs for neuropsychiatric disorders. Developing mental health competency in the future Nigerian physician workforce is one approach to filling the treatment gap. The authors aimed to assess medical students' attitudes to this training and its relevance to their future practice and to assess whether they are getting adequate or relevant training. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was undertaken among a sample (N=375) of 5th- and 6th-year students across four medical schools in Nigeria. Over one-tenth (12%) chose psychiatry as a future career choice. Most expressed positive attitudes toward psychiatry and its relevance to their future careers. A majority were enthusiastic about receiving training in psychiatry in primary-care settings and welcomed a curriculum that emphasized the learning and management of common psychiatric disorders seen in general practice. Medical students surveyed would welcome an undergraduate curriculum that integrates the learning of psychiatry with other specialties and skills-training relevant for primary care. Efforts to modify the current curriculum in psychiatry in Nigerian medical schools should be encouraged.

Nigerian Medical Students’ Opinions about Individuals who use and Abuse Psychoactive Substances

Substance use disorders are prevalent in Nigeria. The number of available specialist health providers is inadequate to fill the treatment gap. Interventions can be provided by nonspecialist health providers and have been found to be beneficial. However, attitudes toward substance misuse and misusers can impede the provision of this service. We aimed to determine attitudes of medical trainees toward substance use by utilizing a modified form of the Substance Abuse Attitude Scale (SAAS). Medical students (n = 200) had positive attitudes toward individuals who misuse psychoactive substances. The medial students, however, preferred treatment to be offered by trained specialists and held restrictive views regarding cannabis and alcohol use. More positive attitudes were expressed by participants who were male or had a lifetime history of psychoactive substance use. The role of personal and family-related psychoactive substance use factors are probably associated with attitudinal responses and would require further exploration.

The impact of a psychiatry clinical rotation on the attitude of Nigerian medical students to psychiatry

Undergraduate medical students have ingrained and often negative attitudes towards psychiatry as a field and as a career. This in turn has affected recruitment of graduate medical students into the specialty. Little is known about the impact of psychiatry rotations during undergraduate medical training on students' attitudes about psychiatry and eventual specialty choice in developing countries. This study examined the impact of a psychiatry clinical rotation on medical students' attitudes to psychiatry and possible career choice. Eighty-one and one hundred and six fifth year medical students completed the ATP-30, socio-demographic and career choice questionnaires at the beginning and the end of a four week clinical rotation respectively. The overall attitude of the students to psychiatry was favourable at the beginning of the rotation with significant improvement following the rotation (p = 0.003). Significant improvement in attitude was observed among female and younger students. Students who indicated preference for specialties other than psychiatry showed a greater improvement in their attitude to psychiatry following the rotation (p = 0.011). The rotation however did not enhance students' preference for psychiatry as a future career. The four-week clinical rotation in psychiatry resulted in increased mean attitudinal score, but not in enhanced preference for psychiatry as a career.

Nigerian clinical level medical students′ knowledge of dental specialty

Background:The roles of physicians in oral healthcare delivery are very important due to the unequal distribution of the low oral health manpower as well as the lack of awareness of patients concerning the treatment of oral health problems by dentists in Nigeria.Aim:To assess the Nigerian clinical level medical students’ knowledge of dental problems and conditions in relation to the dental specialty that treat them.Subjects and Methods:This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of clinical level medical students of University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, was conducted between May and June, 2010. The knowledge of the students was graded as good (16-20), fair (8-15), and poor (<8).Results:Out of the 350 questionnaires distributed, 279 were filled and returned giving an overall response rate of 79.7% (279/350). Of these, 47.0% (131/279), 50.2% (140/279), and 2.8% (8/279) of respondents showed poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. The trend showed a statistically significant increase in the mean level of knowledge of dental specialty with an ascent in the clinical level (P = 0.01).Conclusion:The level of knowledge of dental specialty in this survey was suboptimal and varied with different specialties which may have adverse implication in future patient care. The variation in the level of knowledge with different clinical level suggested gain in knowledge about dental specialty mainly through nonformal means among medical students.

The future of trauma care in a developing country: Interest of medical students and interns in surgery and surgical specialties

BackgroundAttracting the best medical graduates to trauma-related specialties is pivotal for excellent injury management in future, especially with the rising global incidence of injuries. We sought to explore the interest of Nigerian medical students and interns in Orthopaedics, Cardiothoracic, Neurological, Burns and Plastic and General Surgery specialties. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to assess interest in selected trauma-related specialties among 177 senior medical students and interns at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling method was employed and Chi-square test was performed in data analysis using SPSS v15.0 statistical package. ResultsMajority (80%) showed interest in post-graduate specialization. Surgery topped the list of specialties chosen by participants while 55% were likely to choose one of the selected trauma-related specialties. Exposure to positive role models, male gender and being single were significantly associated with interest in trauma-related future career. Opportunities for career fulfilment, carrying out difficult procedures, research and discovery, intellectual challenges during practice, use of modern technology, financial remuneration of specialists, patient outcomes and previous theatre experience had significant positive influence on participants who had strong interest in trauma-related specialty. Lifestyle issues like workload, call schedules, stress and duration of residency, training conditions and facilities and time commitment to practice had negative influence on choice of specialty. ConclusionInterest of medical students and interns in trauma-related specialties may be sustained and enhanced by practicing surgeons through mentoring and by serving as role models. Training programs in surgery should be revisited and made less stressful while lifestyle issues need to be made more favourable.

Medical Ethics Education: A Survey of Opinion of Medical Students in a Nigerian University

In Nigeria, medical education remains focused on the traditional clinical and basic medical science components, leaving students to develop moral attitudes passively through observation and intuition. In order to ascertain the adequacy of this method of moral formations, we studied the opinions of medical students in a Nigerian university towards medical ethics training. Self administered semi-structured questionnaires were completed by final year medical students of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. There were 82 (64.1%) male and 44 (34.4%) female respondents. The median age was 26 years. Most students (80.5%) responded that they did not receive enough training in medical ethics. The ethics instructions they received did not sufficiently prepare them for the ethical challenges they came across as medical students. Though inadequate, the few hours of lecture and discussion on human values and professional etiquette which they received positively influenced their moral reasoning. They identified end-of-life issues, dealing with financial issues and handling socio-cultural beliefs of patients and relations as some challenges that medical doctors are ill-prepared for by their current training. Most, 85.9% believed that formal medical ethics education would be worthwhile as it would enhance the making of complete and better doctors. They recommended incorporating bioethics as a course in the medical school curriculum. Nigerian medical students encounter ethical challenges for which they have not been adequately trained to resolve. They recommended formal medical ethics training in their curriculum and a uniform bioethics programme in the country.

Interest in neurology during medical clerkship in three Nigerian medical schools

BackgroundThis study sought to ascertain perception of Nigerian medical students of neurology in comparison with 7 other major medical specialties. To also determine whether neurology was the specialty students consider most difficult and the reasons for this and to appraise their opinion on how neurosciences and neurology were taught in their different universities.MethodsSelf-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information from randomly selected clinical students from 3 medical colleges in Nigeria (University of Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo).ResultsOf 320 questionnaires sent out, 302 were returned given 94% response rate. Students felt they knew neurology least of all the 8 medical specialties, and were not confident of making neurological diagnoses. About 82% of the students indicated they learnt neurology best from bedside teaching, followed by use of medical textbooks. Close to 15% found online resources very useful for learning neurology and 6% indicated that group discussion was quite useful in the acquisition of knowledge on neurology. Histology and biochemistry were the preclinical subjects participants opined were least useful in learning neurology. The most frequent reasons students felt neurology was difficult were problems with understanding neuroanatomy (49%), insufficient exposure to neurological cases (41%), too many complex diagnoses (32%) and inadequate neurology teachers (32%).ConclusionsNigerian medical students perceived neurology as the most difficult medical specialty and are not interested in specializing in it. Neurology education could be improved upon by provision of more bedside tutorials and increased availability of online resources to enhance learning. There is need to emphasize increased frequency of small group discussions amongst students so that they will be used to teamwork after graduation.

Breast Cancer Knowledge And Screening Practices Among Nigerian Medical Students

Background. Late presentation of patients at advanced stages of disease forms the hallmark of breast cancer in Nigerian women. The peak age of breast cancer presentation among Nigerian women is about 10-15years earlier than what is observed in Caucasian women, where it occurs between the ages of 35-45 years. This study assessed breast cancer knowledge and behavior in terms of screening practices among introductory clinical medical students in Delta State. Nigeria. Materials and Method. The data consisted of selected and constructed response items on a questionnaire which was administered to all introductory clinical (medical) students 18 years and older. Participation in this study was voluntary. The instrument consisted of multiple choice questions that measured variables such as general breast cancer knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, barriers, use of breast cancer screening tests, screening practices, and demographic characteristics. Results. A total of 18 questionnaires were distributed to introductory clinical (medical) students age 18 years and above at the Delta State University in Warri, Nigeria. The response rate was 100%. Age range of respondents was 21-26 years. The overall knowledge of breast cancer was 89.1% while knowledge of the risk factors for breast cancer development was 62.7%. Knowledge of breast cancer symptoms was 67.8%. There were no barriers to breast screening exercises. All the participants admitted performing breast self examination regularly but 22.2% did not know how often breast examination should be done. Three participants (16.7%) have never been told about breast cancer screening by a nurse or physician previously and 16 students (88.9%) have never had a clinical breast examination. Conclusion. While the overall knowledge of breast-cancer, risk factors and performance of breast self examination were good, further studies on a wider scale in Nigeria are needed to elucidate reasons why the elite women do not present themselves for clinical breast examination and why the physicians do not practice routine clinical breast examination.

Unmodified electroconvulsive therapy: changes in knowledge and attitudes of Nigerian medical students.

The relevance of ECT as a treatment option for some psychiatric disorders continues to generate debate in professional and lay circles. Scientific evidence as to the effectiveness of ECT (with anaesthesia) abounds. In some developing countries, the process of change towards the full implementation and use of modified ECT has been slow. The unmodified format is still used for largely economic reasons despite the ethical concerns it raises. We assessed the effect of an intervention (60 minute lecture on ECT, viewing a live ECT session, following up a patient who had received ECT) during a clinical psychiatry rotation, on medical students' knowledge of and attitude toward unmodified electroconvulsive therapy A 14-item self administered questionnaire was administered to 5(th) year medical students at the commencement of their psychiatry rotation, then 4 weeks later to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward unmodified ECT RESULTS: There were significant improvements in knowledge and change in attitude measures to myth about ECT following our intervention. However, viewing live unmodified ECT sessions did not improve the students' acceptability of the procedure. Exposure of medical students to ECT and lectures are important in changing negative attitudes during clerkships and should be incorporated in their teaching curriculum. We may infer that future psychiatrists would prefer the modified form of ECT and acceptability would be better with this format.

Nigerian Medical Students Attitudes to Unmodified Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and affordable form of treatment for a range of psychiatric disorders. Historical antecedents, the media, and movies have generated myths about its continued use and relevance. We explored medical students' knowledge of and attitude to ECT on completion of an 8-week clinical rotation (clerkship) in psychiatry. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among final-year medical students at the end of a clerkship in psychiatry using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from previously published work, to assess their attitudes to and knowledge of unmodified ECT. Knowledge of medicine, psychiatry, and ECT were self-rated as average by most students. Most had an interest in pursuing psychiatry as a profession and would receive ECT if judged clinically appropriate. Most students had positive attitudes toward ECT; the vast majority thought it was a relevant form of treatment and did not think that ECT was used to control violent or used by government to torture opponents. Although an overwhelming majority did not think ECT was outmoded or causes permanent brain damage, answers about pain associated with ECT and about the dangers associated with the procedure seem to be more evenly split. A minority thought that ECT was used only in the poor and should not be given to the elderly or children. A substantial majority thought that ECT was the treatment of last resort. Respondents who were likely to choose psychiatry as a profession agreed that ECT causes pain, but disagreed that it was used by governments to torture political opponents or that it causes permanent brain damage. Students with minimal knowledge of ECT showed more negative attitudes toward the myth that ECT is misused and should be a treatment of last resort. The similarity of the attitudes of students exposed to unmodified ECT with attitudes of students exposed to modified ECT suggests that modification has made little impact on the attitudes of health professionals. The importance of lectures, patient follow-up while on clinical rotations has significant contributions in shaping attitudes and should be harnessed during training.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Population Based Study

BackgroundThe prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease varies in different parts of the world. There are no population based studies in Nigeria. The main objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease in a population of Nigerian medical students.MethodsThe Carlsson-Dent questionnaire was administered to medical students in the clinical phase of their training at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Some putative risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease were also included in the questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was 26.34%. There was an association between the use of caffeine-containing substances (coffee and kolanuts) and the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (odds ratio = 2.2 and 2.015, respectively).ConclusionsGastroesophageal reflux disease is common among Nigerian medical students. The use of caffeine-containing substances (coffee and kolanuts) by students may have a role in the high prevalence.