Neurosurgery in Nigeria II – Evaluation of the Perceptions of Health Personnel after the Commencement of Services in a new Centre

 Background: Prior to the commencement of neurosurgical services in our new centre, in 2006, the awareness of and perceptions about this specialty amongst the health workers were studied. One year after, having experienced first-hand the activities of the unit, these perceptions were again re-evaluatedamongst the same workers to determine the impact of the unit on the opinions about the specialty.Methods and Materials: This study was carried out with a questionnaire designed with the 5-point Likert scale, and the respondents comprised of doctors, nurses, students, paramedics and administrators, randomly selected. The same questionnaire was used in the first study but was slightly modified for thepresent study.Results: Out of 400 questionnaires distributed randomly, 342 were completed and returned. Most of the respondents 282 [82.5%] were aged 20 – 30years, mostly students 220 [64.3%], and majority 318 [93%] have heard of neurosurgery prior to the establishment of our unit. The service need was rated verynecessary by most 286[83.6%], availability of services in Nigeria rated inadequate by 177 [51.8%], and the quality of services rated fair 155[45.3%]. The services in our centre were rated fair 138 [40.4%] and lack of equipment/facilities was adjudged the greatest hindrance to practice 216 [63.2%], and majority 289 [84.5%] strongly recommended that services continue.Conclusion: Neurosurgical services are still significantly inadequate in Nigeria, and though the establishment of new units has positively changed the perception of health workers about the specialty, provision of more manpower and modern facilities remains the major challenge.Niger Med J. Vol. 51, No. 4,Oct. – Dec., 2010: 177 – 179.Keywords: neurosurgery, evaluation, perception, health personne