Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of \"neurophobia,\" or fear of the neurosciences and neurology, and perceptions of neurology education among medical trainees in African countries.
BACKGROUND: Perceptions of neurology and characterization of neurophobia have been studied among medical trainees around the world. However, few studies on neurophobia have been conducted in African countries despite having a disproportionately high burden of neurological disease and fewer neurologists per capita than all other world regions.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical students and post-graduate trainees in internal medicine and pediatrics across Africa. A 23-item online survey containing multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and free-response questions was adapted from prior literature, translated into English and French, and distributed through listservs and social media.
RESULTS: 294 surveys were completed by 197 medical students and 97 post-graduate trainees from 15 countries, with the greatest representation from Zambia (n = 110), Nigeria (n = 54) and Kenya (n = 35). One-fifth of respondents endorsed interest in a future career in neurology while 36% reported discomfort with neurology and almost one-third endorsed neurophobia. Participants rated neurology as the most difficult compared to six other medical subspecialties (p < 0.001) and rated their confidence managing patients with neurological complaints lower than other medical subspecialties except rheumatology (p < 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: Medical trainees in multiple African countries endorse fear and discomfort with the subject of neurology. Strategies to mitigate neurophobia, including investments in neurological educational, diagnostic and treatment capacity, are needed to increase the number of medical trainees pursuing careers in neurology.
BACKGROUND: Perceptions of neurology and characterization of neurophobia have been studied among medical trainees around the world. However, few studies on neurophobia have been conducted in African countries despite having a disproportionately high burden of neurological disease and fewer neurologists per capita than all other world regions.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical students and post-graduate trainees in internal medicine and pediatrics across Africa. A 23-item online survey containing multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and free-response questions was adapted from prior literature, translated into English and French, and distributed through listservs and social media.
RESULTS: 294 surveys were completed by 197 medical students and 97 post-graduate trainees from 15 countries, with the greatest representation from Zambia (n = 110), Nigeria (n = 54) and Kenya (n = 35). One-fifth of respondents endorsed interest in a future career in neurology while 36% reported discomfort with neurology and almost one-third endorsed neurophobia. Participants rated neurology as the most difficult compared to six other medical subspecialties (p < 0.001) and rated their confidence managing patients with neurological complaints lower than other medical subspecialties except rheumatology (p < 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: Medical trainees in multiple African countries endorse fear and discomfort with the subject of neurology. Strategies to mitigate neurophobia, including investments in neurological educational, diagnostic and treatment capacity, are needed to increase the number of medical trainees pursuing careers in neurology.
摘要：
目的：评估神经恐惧症的患病率，或者对神经科学和神经病学的恐惧，以及非洲国家医学学员对神经病学教育的看法。
背景：已经在世界各地的医学受训者中研究了神经病学的认识和神经恐惧症的表征。然而,尽管非洲国家的神经系统疾病负担过高，人均神经科医师人数少于世界其他地区，但对神经恐惧症的研究很少。
方法：我们对非洲的医学生和内科和儿科研究生进行了横断面调查。一项包含多项选择的23项在线调查，李克特音阶,自由回答问题改编自先前的文献，翻译成英语和法语，并通过列表服务器和社交媒体分发。
结果：来自15个国家的197名医学生和97名研究生学员完成了294项调查，赞比亚的代表性最大(n=110)，尼日利亚（n=54）和肯尼亚（n=35）。五分之一的受访者表示对未来的神经病学职业感兴趣，而36%的受访者表示对神经病学感到不适，近三分之一的受访者表示对神经恐惧症感兴趣。与其他六个医学亚专科相比，参与者将神经病学评为最困难的（p<0.001），并将他们管理患有神经系统疾病的患者的信心评分低于除风湿病外的其他医学亚专科（p<0.005）。
结论：来自多个非洲国家的医学受训者赞同神经学学科的恐惧和不适。缓解神经恐惧症的策略，包括对神经教育的投资，诊断和治疗能力，需要增加从事神经病学职业的医学实习生的数量。
背景：已经在世界各地的医学受训者中研究了神经病学的认识和神经恐惧症的表征。然而,尽管非洲国家的神经系统疾病负担过高，人均神经科医师人数少于世界其他地区，但对神经恐惧症的研究很少。
方法：我们对非洲的医学生和内科和儿科研究生进行了横断面调查。一项包含多项选择的23项在线调查，李克特音阶,自由回答问题改编自先前的文献，翻译成英语和法语，并通过列表服务器和社交媒体分发。
结果：来自15个国家的197名医学生和97名研究生学员完成了294项调查，赞比亚的代表性最大(n=110)，尼日利亚（n=54）和肯尼亚（n=35）。五分之一的受访者表示对未来的神经病学职业感兴趣，而36%的受访者表示对神经病学感到不适，近三分之一的受访者表示对神经恐惧症感兴趣。与其他六个医学亚专科相比，参与者将神经病学评为最困难的（p<0.001），并将他们管理患有神经系统疾病的患者的信心评分低于除风湿病外的其他医学亚专科（p<0.005）。
结论：来自多个非洲国家的医学受训者赞同神经学学科的恐惧和不适。缓解神经恐惧症的策略，包括对神经教育的投资，诊断和治疗能力，需要增加从事神经病学职业的医学实习生的数量。
