Anaesthesia as a Career: Identifying Factors that Influence its Choice

Background: The recruitment of medical officers and residents has been low in anaesthesia that leads to shortage of anesthetists in our country. There are a number of factors that influence the decision of a student to make a choice for a career. Aim: To identify the factors that influence the choice of anesthesia as career. Methodology: Two hundred participants working in anesthesiology of different hospitals of Punjab were included in this questionnaire based survey. They had to select factors that influenced them to select anesthesia as career. They also had to enumerate three factors in order of importance. Results: One hundred and eighty five questionnaires were received. 65.9% participants chose the speciality because of opportunity to do procedures that was followed by time for family and promotion prospects. The most important factors listed according to importance were diversity in clinical spectrum and promotion prospects. Conclusion: The opportunity to learn procedures followed by promotion prospects and time for family influence selection of anaesthesia. Increasing the exposure of anesthesiology at undergraduate level can attract students to come into this specialty.