International Journal of Medical Students (Jan 2025)
Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Medical Students Towards a Career in Anesthesiology
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anesthesia is a crucial specialty in the medical field as it transcends both medical and surgical specializations. However, it is vital to Global Surgery. AIM: This study aims to assess and evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of medical students towards anesthesiology and a career in it. METHODOLOGY: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study quantitative study conducted amongst clinical students of Afe Babalola University Medical School. Using simple balloting method, the 5th year medical students were chosen. Data collected was then organized on a google sheet and analyzed. RESULT: Majority (82.7% n=86) of the respondents were females, while a few ((17.3% n=18) were males. All (100% n=104) of the respondents had undergone academic lectures in pharmacology of anesthetics, majority (60.6% n=63) did not find it easy and had to put in extra efforts to understand it. Practically, 76% (n=79) of the respondents had completed clinical rotations in anesthesiology as part of their medical training. Most (49% n=51) of them are not considering a career in Anesthesiology. While 7.7% (n=8) of them are definitive about wanting a career in anesthesiology, 43.3% (n=45) see it as a possibility. As regards intra-personal work relationship in the hospitals, 95.2% (n=99) of the respondents observed a positive relationship that resulted in good surgical outcomes. CONCLUSION: The anesthesiology training of medical students is curricular and not competence based. Less than 1 in 10 students are considering Anesthesia as a definitive career path. A positive relationship between surgeons and anesthetists promotes good surgical outcomes.
