Factors Influencing The Interest Of House Officers And Medical Officers In Anaesthesiology Specialty At The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Anaesthesiology is the medical specialty which deals with the pharmacological, physiological, and clinical aspects of anaesthesia, a state of temporary loss of wakefulness or sensation, which is induced for medical purposes. Over the years, the field has failed to attract an adequate number of doctors into its practice though an integral part of the practice of medicine. Aim of The Study: The study assessed the factors affecting the interest of house officers and medical officers in anaesthesiology as a prospective field of specialisation. Methods: The study employed a quantitative research design, in which questionnaires were administered to 192 House officers and medical officers from 5 Departments (Surgery, Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Anaesthesia). The doctors were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. STATA 16 was used to process and analyze the data gathered from the respondents. Descriptive statistics (percentages, means and frequencies) and inferential statistics (chi square and logistic regression) were used for data analysis. Results: Doctors generally had a good perception about anaesthesiology. Also, duration of a specialty, rotation during clinical clerkship and ability to have a controlled lifestyle were some of the factors that influence the interest of doctors in anaesthesiology as a prospective field of specialization. In line with this, respondents between the ages of 25 to 29 years were more likely as compared to those who were less than 25 years to be interested in anesthesiology specialisation [(cOR =4.364; 95% CI =1.202-15.838), (aOR =3.241, 95% CI =1.103-14.72)]. Again, respondents who had practiced medicine for 2 to 4 years were more likely as compared to those who had practiced medicine for less than 2 years to be interested in anaesthesiology specialisation [(cOR =2.143; 95% CI =1.072-4.286), (aOR =1.567, 95% CI =1.013-3.245)]. Conclusion: There is a good perception of medical officers and house officers about anaesthesiology. Likewise, factors such as the duration and level of exposure to the specialty during clinical clerkship and the ability to have a controlled lifestyle and future job prospects are significant in influencing the interest in anesthesiology specialisation. Recommendations: Senior anaesthesiologists and medical schools need to improve the profile of the discipline, by changing the misconceptions attached to it and enhance its appeal to doctors. This can be done by dispelling the notion that anaesthesiology is a risky and dangerous profession during lectures in the medical schools