Abiola Adeogun – Medical Elective – Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

 

Name: Abiola Adeogun

Country of study: United Kingdom

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Elective Period: 28/03/16 – 22/04/16

Duration of Elective: 4 weeks

Speciality: Cardiology, Diabetes and Endocrine, Neurology and Respiratory Medicine

 

 

• What was a typical week like?

A typical week included attending ward rounds and clinics attending occasional teaching with the doctors.

 

 

• What 3 things did you learn?

1) Making a diagnosis without relying on e.g. imaging and test results.

2) Management of tropical diseases.

3) The structure of the healthcare system in Nigeria.

 

• What were your most enjoyable moments during your elective?

Being able to go to theatre.

 

• What similarities and differences did you notice whilst on your elective in Nigeria, in comparison to the healthcare service you have witness whilst at medical school?

Differences in doctor patient relationship, communications skills, organisation and resources.

 

• What were your goals? Where you able to achieve your goals, and how?

To have a better understanding of healthcare system in Nigeria and be able to compare team dynamics. To identify medical ethical challenges in the hospital and their implications. To explore the possibility of working as a Doctor in Nigeria in the future.

 

• If you had the opportunity to reorganise or redo your elective, what would you change and why?

I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to work in a state hospital and I have no regrets. If I had to redo my electives, I think I would prefer to work in a smaller hospital or private hospital as I feel I would have been more involved and the experience would have been more hands on. I felt the environment in the state hospital that I worked at was sometimes too busy and lacked organisation.

 

 

 

• Looking forward, how has your experience impacted your career and personal life?

A lot of communication with patents was in Yoruba. As I don’t understand the language I had trouble following some of the consultations. I realise that if I decide to work in Nigeria in the future, I may need to learn the common languages. My cousin was admitted to a private hospital whilst I was in Nigeria. Visiting her at the private hospital enabled me to see what practicing medicine is like in a private hospital, observe doctor-patient interactions and the general work ethos. I think I would prefer to work in a private hospital in Nigeria in the future.