Challenges to Effective Teaching of the Behavioural and Social Sciences to Medical Students in Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: In line with the international trends, most  Nigerian medical schools  include the Behavioural and  Social Sciences(BSS) in their  curricula. The accrediting body  for university education in  Nigeria, The National University Commission (NUC) listed a number of special topics of relevance to the behavioural  and social science contents of medical school curricula.
Aim: To sensitize medical educators to the challenges in  the translation of this NUC  directives to action.
Methods: A review of published works on the integration of the  BSS into medical education  curricula. Information on teaching of BSS was obtained through targetted informal discussions with at least two students and one lecturer each various medical schools in universities across the country.
Results: The review showed differences in who teaches, the design and methods of teaching the BSS. Barriers to effective didactic teaching of BSS in Nigerian medical schools were highlighted.
Conclusion: There is a need to design empirical studies and nation-wide surveys that will further explore the issue raised concerning the effective teaching and integration of the BSS into medical education