Medical Student’s Attitude towards Anesthesiology as a Future Career

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia suffers from a drastic shortage of anesthesiologists. This shortage has a major impact on the provision of safe, timeous and appropriate surgery for the population. One factor implicated in this shortage may be the difficulty in appropriate recruitment of trainees OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to assess attitude of medical student on anesthesiology as career in their future

METHODS: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the final year medical students at the University of SPHMMC for the year 2011 E.C . . . . The data was analyzed using SPSS 20 software and the results will be presented by tables and bar graphs

RESULT

At total of 96 final-year medical students participated in the study. The majority (88.3%) of the medical students would like to specialize in the future. Anesthesiology ranked seventh in popularity among the specialties presented to the students. The students opinion positive attribute of anesthesiology was high income(76%), quick response to treatment (76%), and controllable life style (61% and )The negative attributes of anesthesiology highlighted by the students were that it was , stressful(76.1%) lack of recognition by peers(61.5%) and patients(75%) , frightening and perceived as behind the scenes The biggest influence on the medical student of anesthesiology was the medical school rotation, with the need for longer duration of exposure, highlighted by 24 (21.4%) of the students. Conclusion: The perceptions of medical students concerning anesthesia are multi-faceted, with the undergraduate anesthesiology rotation viewed as the biggest influence on their attitudes regarding anesthesiology. All anesthesiology should strive to improve the discipline profile, change the misconceptions and enhance the attractiveness of the specialty amongst medical students from foundation level upwards