Clinical exposure to neurosurgery at medical school: The current medical student experience

Lester, Aled, Ved, Ronak, Ramage, Gregor, Greenwood, Stephen, Parry, Daniel, Leach, Paul and Smith, Phil 2026. Clinical exposure to neurosurgery at medical school: The current medical student experience. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery 43 , 102185. 10.1016/j.inat.2025.102185

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Abstract

Background Medical students may be placed at neurosurgical centres (NCs) or non-neurosurgical centres (non-NCs) during their undergraduate clinical neurosciences placements (CNP). Studies show varied exposure to neurosurgery among medical schools, but comparison of clinical exposure between students at neurosurgical centres and non-neurosurgical centres or its impact on their preparedness, is yet to be fully assessed. Methods A questionnaire was electronically distributed to medical students from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, all of whom completed a clinical neurosciences placement. Recruitment was through email, social media, and in-person. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results Forty responses were collected from medical students. Thirty-four (85.0 %) had their clinical neurosciences placement at a neurosurgical centre, and of these, twenty-four (70.6 %) had a neurosurgical rotation, half of which lasted ≤ two days. Significantly more participants at neurosurgical centres attended neurosurgical theatre compared to none at non-neurosurgical centres (54.8 % vs 0.0 %, p = 0.022). Significant differences were found in neurosurgical tutorials, small group teaching, case-based discussions, and simulations, with these opportunities being more commonly provided at neurosurgical centres. Three themes from the qualitative data supported the quantitative findings. Conclusion There is a difference in clinical exposure between students at neurosurgical centres and non- neurosurgical centres. Students at non-neurosurgical centres have fewer neurosurgical opportunities, potentially impacting their learning, examination performance, and clinical practice.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
ISSN:	2214-7519
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 January 2026
Date of Acceptance:	28 December 2025
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2026 09:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183783

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