Available online Jun 6, 2024.

[ Original ] Volume 4, Issue 1, 2021, Pages 57-64

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Abstract

Aim: To determine the preparedness of fresh medical graduates in Nigeria for internship responsibilities and advocate for a review of the current medical curriculum.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among interns of the 2019 batch in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. The interns completed a self-administered questionnaire from which data was obtained.

Results: There were 103 respondents in this study. The reported feelings—incompetence, confidence, challenging, horrifying, depression—seemed to increase from the first day through the first month on the job. Feeling confused, overwhelmed, and challenged was observed to decrease progressively from day 1 to one month. Feeling stimulated increased in week 1 but dropped at one month.

Conclusion: The fresh medical graduate feels largely inadequately prepared for the new role as a medical intern in the first few weeks of taking on the responsibilities, as evidenced by increased negative feelings. In this study, new interns perceived that medical school had not adequately prepared them for their new job responsibilities. Thus, we advocate a review of the current training curriculum for medical students in Nigeria to produce fit-for purpose medical interns. 

Keywords

Medical interns, Medical curriculum, Fresh graduates,

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