Replicating the Role of Youth in Medical Practice and Policy: A Contemporary Analysis from Burkina Faso

The original study proposed that youth engagement is a critical but underused driver of innovation in African medical systems, advocating for their structured inclusion in practice and policy. This replication re-examines these propositions within the contemporary context of Burkina Faso's healthcare sector. This study aimed to replicate and critically assess the original findings on the role of youth in medicine within Burkina Faso. Its primary objective was to determine whether the previously identified themes of marginalisation, innovative potential, and policy influence persist and to explore any new contextual factors. A qualitative, multi-method replication was conducted, mirroring the original design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with early-career medical professionals and health policy stakeholders, and focus group discussions with medical students and recent graduates. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and compare findings with the original study. The analysis confirmed the original study’s core themes while revealing a heightened emphasis on digital health advocacy as a distinct domain of youth contribution. A prominent finding was that a majority of interviewees reported feeling systematically excluded from formal policy dialogue, despite acknowledging informal avenues for influence. The perceived role of youth shifted from passive recipients of mentorship to active proponents of technological adaptation in clinical practice. The replication substantiates the original thesis that youth remain a significant yet under-incorporated resource in Burkinabé medicine. It refines this by highlighting digital health as a new, youth-led frontier. The persistent gap between informal influence and formal inclusion remains a key challenge. Medical institutions and policy bodies in Burkina Faso should create formalised mechanisms, such as youth advisory panels, to integrate early-career perspectives into health strategy. Training programmes should leverage youth proficiency in digital tools to accelerate health system modernisation. Youth engagement, medical practice, health policy, replication study, Burkina Faso, digital health, qualitative research. This study provides a contemporary validation and refinement of prior evidence on youth engagement in African medical systems, offering specific insights for Burkina Faso's health sector development.