Lived and perceived of their profession by Togolese doctors

Abstract

Aim: a study has been carried out by Togolese medical doctors in order to determine the perceived and the real life of their profession.
Methods: the study, which was transversal, has taken in account a sample of 52 medical doctors made on the basis of a cautious choice. Most of these medical doctors (15 general practitioners, 23 specialists and 14 hospitalouniversitaires) work in the medical cares centres of Lomé. A sheet of survey has permitted the collection of demographic datas and datas relating to the medical studies and carreer.
Results: the 52 medical doctors included in the study (7 women, 45 men) were between 25 and 59 years old; their age of getting their A-level was between 16 and 23 years old, and that of getting the doctorate diploma between 24 and 37. The length of professional experience stands between 8 months and 27 years.
The marital status was specified by 47 of the 52 medical doctors: 13 single, one divorced, and 33 married; 5 of the 7 women who took part in the survey were single and without any child. The love of the profession (65%), the social status it confers (37%) and the honour tied to the profession (27%) were the main
motives of choosing the profession. The decision of doing medical studies was taken during secondary studies by 45 of the 52 persons. The faculty of
medicine of Lomé has been the study frame to general medicine studies of 35 persons (67%). The low payment (83%), the poverty of the patients (83%), the
narrowness of the technical platform (79%), the insufficiency of cares structures in paramedical personnel (67%), the insufficiency of continuing education (60%), and the lack or insufficiency of drugs (58%) were the main problems encountered during their professional experience by the people questioned. 22 medical doctors (43%) have estimated that their profession has given them a particular social status. Only 8 medical doctors have found that the real things they have gone trough in the profession matches with the idea they had, while 32 (62%) are ready to choose again the profession if they have to start everything. The little time spent with the family has been stated out by 36 medical doctors (69%), the social and family prestige that came out of it by 32 (62%), and the ability to control the health of one’s family by 34 (65%). The psychological impact of the profession on the medical doctors questioned was dominated by the adoption of a philosophical attitude towards life.
Conclusion: a better productivity of the Togolese medical doctors needs the improvement of their life conditions (adjustment of texts in force, revision of the salary scale), the renovation of the facilities, the modernization of the technical platform, the continuing education of the medical doctors and the reinforcement of the practical management of the patient on bed.