ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Our aim was to assess the basic musculoskeletal competency of pre-internship graduates from Nigerian medical schools. METHODS: We administered the Freedman and Bernstein basic musculoskeletal competency examination to 113 pre-internship graduates from seven Nigerian medical schools over a three year period from 2008 to 2010 at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Five specialist residents took the examination to test criteria relevance. RESULTS: All graduates failed this test, obtaining scores ranging from 7% to 67%. The duration of the orthopaedic posting, and observation of operative fracture fixation, were not significant determinants of the score. The two final-year specialist residents each had a marginal pass in the examination. CONCLUSION: Basic musculoskeletal competency among pre-internship Nigerian medical-school graduates is inadequate.
