S V Eweje, K I Egbuchulem, O Oladosu, O S Izevbekhai, A J Temabor, S O Oluwalana, S Alawode, M M Awodiji, D I Olulana
Introduction: Medical school serves as a training ground and entry path to the dignified profession of medical practice. As a result, the training is rigorous, wholesome and exhaustive. It aims to raise students who are capable of handling the pressure associated with being a physician, equipped with the knowledge and critical thinking skills required to successfully manage patients as well as the discipline, strength and character needed to uphold the tenets expected of a physician. Medical school more often than not becomes, not just the first exposure to tertiary learning, but coupled with the unique intricacies of the medical field, becomes a new, unprecedented, multifaceted experience in the lives of medical students. There is no explicit guideline dictating who the ideal medical student is or what characteristics are expected of him or her. Various authorities have described some qualities expected of the ideal medical student with noticeable overlap, as skills such as good academic ability, critical thinking, a sense of responsibility and effective communication being the most recurring.1 An ideal medical student is all at once, a great student and a great medical personnel. Colloquially, it is expected that a medical student be an all-rounder. The objectives of this commentary therefore are; To outline who an ideal medical student is.To outline the challenges of Nigerian medical students.To enumerate possible solutions to the challenges.
The Nigerian Medical Students' Perspective: The average medical student in Nigeria is accustomed to only studying about cutting edge technologies and medical advancements. It has become somewhat unusual or is considered an opportunity to experience technologically based interventions that have become commonplace in advanced climes. Furthermore, owing to the unstable sociopolitical and economic climate, the studies of medical students are often interrupted by industrial strike actions from the various unions involved in the education of medical students in Nigeria. Another important factor of note is the lack of stable amenities such as water and electricity, and limited infrastructure like housing. Working around these, as well as seeking personalised alternatives directly and indirectly negatively affect the ability of a medical student to emulate the ideals expected of him or her. In addition, the superstitious sociocultural view of not freely disclosing personal information which is prevalent among patients in Nigeria and the language barriers owing to the varied multi-lingual and ethnic picture in the nation with lack of universal ability to converse in English may hamper the efforts of a medical student.
Conclusion: The end goal of medical school is to produce students who are qualified to take the Physician's Pledge, and capable of embodying the qualities contained within. The ideal medical student is one step closer to becoming an ideal medical practitioner but for this to occur, careful guidance from their trainers and a conducive environment is of utmost importance.
