title: Factors affecting interest in cardiothoracic surgery among junior surgical residents in Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A survey was undertaken to determine the factors that affect interest in cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) among junior surgical residents in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was done using a pilottested, 56-item, semi-structured questionnaire, which was filled in by 238 junior surgical residents in accredited hospitals in Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few of the respondents (8.4%) were committed to specialising in CTS. A minority of them, 28.2 and 2.1%, had assisted in major thoracic procedures and open-heart surgeries, respectively. The relationship between the level of training, rotation in CTS in junior residency and interest in CTS were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The main important factors responsible for the low interest in CTS include the lack of equipment (92%), limited training positions (64.9%), poor or lack of exposure in CTS as a junior resident (63%) and in medical school (58.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a dire need to provide facilities and training opportunities to improve the cardiothoracic workforce in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. Email: ekesieme@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emeka B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kesieme
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Usmanu Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olugbenga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olusoji
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ismail Mohammed
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Inuwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tafawa Belawa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kefas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ndubuisi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anumenechi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000193:education