Anaesthesia as a career choice in a developing country; effect of clinical clerkship

Fauzia Anis Khan, Fauzia Nasim Minai, Shahla Siddiqui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To explore the fourth year medical student's knowledge regarding anaesthesia as a specialty, their attitude towards anaesthesia as a career choice and the effect of clinical clerkship on these. Methods: This survey was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesia of a university medical centre in a developing country. One hundred and fifty year four medical students rotating in anaesthesia were enrolled. They were asked to fill a structured questionnaire before (pre) and after (post) their anaesthesia rotation. The questionnaire sought information on their perception of anaesthesia as a specialty, role of anaesthetists, clerkship duration, and reasons for considering or not considering anaesthesia. Results: Prior to anaesthesia clerkship 12 students (8%) included anaesthesia in their first three career choices (2 as first preference). Post clerkship 36 (24%) included it in their first 3 career choices (3 as first preference). There was a change in perception of specialty for 57 participants. Conclusion: The findings support the positive influence of anaesthesia clerkship on changing the attitude of medical students towards anaesthesia specialty in a developing country with shortage of anaesthesia personnel.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1052-1056
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Volume61
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anaesthesia
  • Career choice
  • Karachi
  • Pakistan

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