Evolution of the Prototype of the Concept of Teaching Clinical Occupational Medicine at Undergraduate Level in South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This concept paper narrates the activities that started in 1995, in the course of developing the concept of teaching clinical occupational medicine in a Nigerian Medical School. The setting was a medical school in South East, Nigeria. The activities included, conception of the idea, development of the concept, the practical application of the concept in teaching medical students both in the University and the clinical teaching in the teaching hospital; development of the concept to the level of prototype; testing the concept over a period of time to see that it really works; scientific research to validate the concept. This was done in 2006 for current practice in medical education stipulate not less than ten years, from the inception of the concept. In this presentation, the introduction discussed the issues in current medical practice in Nigeria, in particular and other parts of the world in general. The discussion explained the issues raised in the development and implementation of the concept. The conclusion included recommendations on how best to apply the prototype of the concept in other medical schools where clinical occupational medicine is not yet being taught at undergraduate level. In this respect, the forming of linkages with universities in developed countries, where clinical occupational medicine is taught at undergraduate level, is emphasized. One thousand and fifty medical graduates of the aforementioned medical school have benefited from this concept. This means that they can diagnose and manage common occupational diseases.