Survey of Factors that Influence Doctors’ Selection of Anaesthesiology as Professional Specialty and Opinion Regarding Being Anaesthesiologists.
Date
2014-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South East Asia Regional Association for Medical Education.
Abstract
Objectives: The aims of the present study were to survey reasons regarding choosing
Anaesthesiology as professional specialty and evaluate perception regarding being
anaesthesiologists.
Methods: This cross sectional, multi-institutional study anonymously surveyed first year
Anaesthesiology residents in resident training centres in Bangkok who came for the first inter-hospital
lectures at Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in July,
2012. A structured questionnaire comprising of demographic data, reasons for choosing
anaesthesiology, and attitude regarding anaesthesiologists was filled in and returned before
beginning of lectures.
Results: All 50 anaesthesia residents who attended the inter-hospital lectures responded; 40
residents (80%) were female. By selecting three preferred choices, the respondents stated reasons
for choosing Anaesthesiology were as follows: 1) Responsibility of patient on case by case basis 38
(76%); 2) Impression of anaesthesiologist as a role model 17 (34%); 3) Career characteristic of both
knowledge and skill 16 (32%); 4) Limited number of patients under responsibility 15 (30%); 5) Not
too frequent communication 14 (28%). In the respondents‘ view point, disadvantages of being
anaesthesiologist were high chance of being legally sued (74%) and contact with blood and/or body
fluids (60%). Characteristics of good anaesthesiologists were identified as the ability to make
decisions during critical events (86%), high responsibility (62%), ability to obtain patients‘ data for
adjusting of anaesthesia care (46%) and knowledge of own limitations and capacity (46%).
Conclusion: Career characteristics favouring controllable lifestyle such as responsibility of patients on
case by case basis, identification of the anaesthesiologist as a role model and professional ability of
both knowledge and skills were features that residents found most attractive.
Description
Keywords
medical education, residency training, career choice, anaesthesia, selection
Citation
Charuluxananan S, Chatrkaw P, Rodanant O, Tuchinda L, Somboonwiboon W. Survey of Factors that Influence Doctors’ Selection of Anaesthesiology as Professional Specialty and Opinion Regarding Being Anaesthesiologists. South East Asia Regional Association for Medical Education. 2014 Dec; 8(2): 54-59.