A qualitative study of Nigerian-trained medical doctors’ perceptions of the requirements for practicing medicine in the United States and the ways they may be responding to the U.S. health care system

Emigration of doctors from Nigeria has increased recently. Regardless of their level of training and professional accomplishments, Nigerian-trained doctors must undergo residency training before they are allowed to practice in the United States. We conducted the study described herein to explore the perceptions of this requirement among Nigerian-trained medical doctors and examine ways they may be responding to the U.S. health care system. In-depth face-to-face interviews of 12 Nigerian-trained immigrant doctors in Houston, Texas were conducted. Immigrant doctor was defined as someone who immigrated to the United States within the past 7 years and resided in Houston for up to 3 months. Using thematic analysis, inductive and deductive coding of transcripts were performed, and the codes were grouped by consensus into themes. Nigerian immigrant doctors with more post-residency experience are frustrated about the requirement for practicing medicine in the United States. In general, all participants noted the ways that United States practices differed from Nigeria. They cited the high cost of U.S. medical care, having to schedule appointments before seeing a physician, and needing prescription to gain access to some medications such as antibiotics. Our results suggested that researchers should examine residency-related frustration and possible mental health outcomes among Nigerian-trained medical doctors. Future studies should also determine how costs, appointment scheduling, and the prescription culture influence how immigrants manage their own care and respond to health care in the United States.