Medical Students and Interns Considering Anaesthesiology as a Future Career Option: An Institutional Survey from Uttarakhand

Abstract

Background: There may be an increasing awareness and demand of anaesthesiology as a speciality and fraternity. Objectives: The objective of the survey was to evaluate the attitude of MBBS students and interns of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, regarding opting for anaesthesiology as their post-graduate subject and pursuing anaesthesiology as their future career. Materials and Methods: This was an online survey that was conducted through a short, simplified, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire (as a Google Forms) through e-mail to students of all MBBS Professionals (Professional - I, II, Final Part - I and Final Part - II) as well as interns. Results: Amongst 121 respondents, only 13% were planning for anaesthesiology as the first choice for post-graduation. Conclusion: Only one in eight medical students at a single institute in Uttarakhand wants to pursue anaesthesiology, which means measures and efforts are warranted to make anaesthesiology more lucrative. Awareness at the community level regarding anaesthesiologists as pain and peri-operative physicians is the need of the hour.