Global Surgery In Medical School: A Cross-sectional Study On Awareness, Exposure, And Interest In Global Surgery Among Medical Students In Nepal

GASOC International Conference 2025
ABSTRACT FIRST PRESENTED: 24.10.2025

doi: 10.52648/GASOC.1006_354

Global Surgery In Medical School: A Cross-sectional Study On Awareness, Exposure, And Interest In Global Surgery Among Medical Students In Nepal

Bidushika Dahal , Amit Chand, Bishow Karki, Bikram Thapa
Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal; Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal; Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom; Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, United Kingdom

Introduction: Global surgery is a multidisciplinary field aiming to ensure safe, timely, and affordable surgical care for all. Medical students in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), as future surgeons, physicians, and advocates, must be equipped with the knowledge to drive system-level changes and address unmet surgical needs. This study provides data on understanding of global surgery among medical students in Nepal, an LMIC.

Aim: To assess the level of awareness, exposure, and interest of Nepalese medical students in global surgery, and to identify the barrier(s) limiting them.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured online questionnaire. Medical students (first to fifth year, excluding interns) were recruited via convenience sampling after obtaining informed consent (n=101). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: 71.78% students have basic awareness on global surgery, and 33.41% demonstrated a more specific degree of awareness. 59.4% students have some form of exposure to Global surgery, and 64.35% students have shown interest. The most common barriers in understanding Global Surgery has been the lack of content in the medical curriculum (65.34%), and heavy academic workload (60.39%).

Conclusion: It is evident that 40.6% students still lack exposure to global surgery, leading to awareness and interest levels in this field not being higher. This establishes the need to enhance understanding of global surgery related contents during the early years in medical school, in order to foster knowledge, skills and interest of medical students in this area of practice.

Keywords: Global Surgery, Surgical Care

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