Factors influencing the choice of anaesthesia as a field of specialty in University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Specialisation is perceived as essential for success, and affects the availability and distribution of medical personnel and the quality of service the health system is able to deliver. In Ghana, some areas of medical specialties have a relatively good number of practitioners and are constantly attracting prospective doctors into these fields. Anaesthesia, which is an essential and integral part of the health care system, is one field with an inadequate workforce and has been attracting few doctors into the specialty. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 183 undergraduate final-year students of the University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry. A total of 183 self-reporting questionnaires were distributed among the students during tutorials for their final exams. Of these, 146 questionnaires were completed and returned. Results: General surgery was the most desirable specialty 26 (17.8%), paediatrics was the second most desirable specialty 24 (16.4%), whilst anaesthesia 2 (1.4%) ranked seventh. Conclusions:The results of this survey suggest that duration of exposure during clinical clerkship influences career decision among undergraduate medical students. Most of the students prioritise their choice of specialty based on interest and exposure during rotation through the specialty.

Career choice of anaesthetists in a department of anaesthesiology at a tertiary institution in South Africa

“…3,5,6,[11][12][13]16 In addition, studies performed solely among medical students showed that anaesthesiology was infrequently indicated as a career choice, which was attributed to insignificant exposure during undergraduate training. 14,15,17,21,22 Increasing undergraduate exposure to anaesthesiology should be considered to improve the visibility of the discipline among medical students.…”

“…4,[6][7][8] Differences between gender have been identified, with females increasingly opting for specialties allowing for part-time work. 3,9 Studies on choosing anaesthesiology as a career have been conducted in developing countries, [10][11][12][13] including African countries such as Rwanda 14 and Ghana, 15 that have a severe shortage of anaesthetists. The findings of these studies are similar to those in developed countries.…”

Perceptions of final-year UKZN medical students about anaesthesia as a specialty choice

“…Previous studies have looked at factors that influence the career preferences of medical graduates. 1,2 Such factors include the individual's characteristics, personal interest, perceived benefits of the discipline, prestige, attractiveness of particular specialties, and exposure to a specialty in the undergraduate medical curriculum. 3,4 The main reasons in our cohort (the undergraduate rotation in medical school, time for family and the intellectually stimulating/challenging nature of the discipline) are in keeping with other studies in this area.…”

“…Previous studies have looked at factors that influence the career preferences of medical graduates. [1][2][3] Such factors include the individual's characteristics, perceived benefits of the discipline, attractiveness of particular specialties, and exposure to a specialty in the undergraduate medical curriculum. An understanding of such factors in the local context could have important implications for future recruitment into anaesthesiology.…”

Ear, Nose And Throat Specialty As A Future Career Preference For Medical Students In Northern Ghana

“…It is important to emphasize that medical students' career preferences vary among countries and within countries 13 . As maintained by Abdul-Rahman and colleagues 14 , Ghana has an appreciable number of specialists in some areas of the medical practice, with many doctors preferring those specialties over the other ones. This situation tends to affect the medical workforce in some important areas of the healthcare delivery system in Ghana.…”