• Asma Ahmed, Aiman Waheed, Eesha Yaqoob, Rukhsana Jabeen, Bipin Chaurasia, and Saad Javed.
• Medical Student, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Aug 1; 188: e405e413e405-e413.

BackgroundMedical students often face challenges in choosing a career path due to limited exposure to specialized fields like neurosurgery. Understanding their perceptions and experiences is crucial in addressing the gaps in neurosurgical education and inspiring future neurosurgeons.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving 461 medical students, utilizing convenience sampling. Data collection employed a validated, self-administered tool. Statistical analysis in SPSS Version 25 included t-tests and chi-square tests, comparing scores based on age, gender, year of study, and exposure to the formal neurosurgical rotations in their institute. Significance value was set at P < 0.05.ResultsIn the study of 461 medical students, 79.8% identified with the 19-23 age group, and 63.8% affirmed neurosurgery exposure. Medical students' perceptions included: 167 (36.3%) students found neurosurgery teaching sufficient; 164 (35.6%) disagreed that obtaining neurosurgical history is difficult; 224 (48.6%) agreed on neurosurgical disease complexity; and 250 (54.2%) found these diseases challenging and interesting. A majority of 183 (39.7%) respondents agreed that neurosurgical diseases had poor outcomes. Regarding training for neurosurgical surgery, 205 (44.5%) participants strongly agreed on its length, and 215 (46.7%) consented to extensive operating hours. However, 167 (36.3%) strongly disagreed about the ample job prospects in Pakistan.ConclusionsEnhancing neurosurgery education with quality, consistency, and adaptability is essential to bridge gaps and inspire future neurosurgeons. These findings guide improvements in educational programs, preparing a skilled workforce to meet evolving health-care demands.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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