A study of clinical teachers’ attitude to teaching and perceived learning needs in a medical college in Nigeria

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Debates on medical educational reform initiatives in Nigeria have gradually shifted from access to medical colleges to improving learning quality. Understandably, clinical teachers are being encouraged to acquire basic teaching pedagogical knowledge through learning activities. Considering the fact that the concept of faculty development for medical teachers’ is still evolving in Sub-Saharan Africa, this study aims to explore clinical teachers’ attitude to teaching and perceptions of continuing education in teaching knowledge and skills in a medical college in Nigeria. METHODS: Using a mixed-method research approach, quantitative data were collected from a sample of teachers through survey questionnaires, and qualitative data were obtained through face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews of teachers from the same institution. RESULTS: Sixty-one survey questionnaires (response rate of 88%) and 10 interviews were completed and analyzed. Findings revealed that teachers’ derived satisfaction from teaching and maintain a strong commitment to teaching. Bedside teachings (64%) and lectures (21%) were reported to be the most frequent mode of teaching. Although four out of every five respondents (80%) reported not having previous training in teaching, a large proportion (97%) self-assessed their teaching abilities to be average or above average, with most indicating that the experience of teaching observed during undergraduate medical training may be sufficient preparation for their teaching roles. The majority of the teachers' were of the opinion that there is a need to improve their individual teaching skill. However, in the absence of formal faculty development programs in the college, most of the teachers indicated that their teaching skills are currently being improved through sporadic informal community of practice involving interested colleagues and modeling identified good teachers. CONCLUSION: A catalyst of learning by teachers’ may come from their belief and self-rating of teaching ability. In this under-resourced context, explicit classifications of existing informal learning opportunities coupled with greater institutional support could improve teaching and teachers’ development.