A Bronchoscopy in Nigerian Clinical Practice Survey of Medical Doctors’ Perception, Use and Associated Challenges

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy is a vital diagnostic andtherapeutic procedure in pulmonological practice. The aim of thisstudy was to determine the perception, use and challengesencountered by Nigerian medical doctors involved in thisprocedure.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study wasconducted among 250 medical doctors recruited from three majortertiary institutions in Nigeria between September 2013 and June2014. A semi-structured questionnaire was self-administered toadult physicians, paediatricians, and surgeons as well as theirtrainees to obtain their perception, use and associated challenges inthe use of bronchoscopy in clinical practice.RESULTS: The majority (91.6%) of the respondents perceivedbronchoscopy as a beneficial procedure to respiratory medicine.However, 59.2% of them were not aware of the low mortality rateassociated with this procedure. The commonest indications forbronchoscopic use were foreign body aspiration (88.8%) andmanagement of lung tumors (75.6%). Only 21 (8.4%) of therespondents had received formal training in bronchoscopy. Veryfew procedures (1-5 cases per month) were performed. Therespondents identified the lack of formal training in the art ofbronchoscopy as the foremost challenge facing its practice inNigeria. In addition, availability of bronchoscopes, level ofawareness, knowledge of the procedure among medical doctors andthe cost of the procedure were the challenges faced by the medicaldoctors.CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to equip training centerswith modern bronchoscopic facilities. In addition,well-structuredbronchoscopic training programme is imperative to enhance thetrainees’ proficiency for the furtherance of bronchoscopic practice.KEYWORDS: Bronchoscopy, Nigeria, Respiratory medicine,Interventional pulmonology, Training