Determinants of Proclivity for Anaesthesia as a Career Among Medical Students in a Southwestern Nigeria Tertiary Institution

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This study investigated factors influencing medical students' interest in anaesthesia as a career choice. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 147 final-year and penultimate medical students at University College Hospital, Ibadan, using a structured self-administered online questionnaire. Data were collected in March 2025 and analysed using SPSS version 27. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were performed to identify associations. Results: Only 29.2% of students intending to specialise expressed interest in anaesthesia, with merely 9.2% ranking it as their first choice. The timing of interest development was significantly associated with clinical exposure; 65.8% developed interest during their anaesthesia posting, and 28.9% after the posting (p<0.001). Primary motivating factors included perceived lucrativeness (94.6%), personal interest (78.4%), and positive clinical rotation experiences (75.7%). Conversely, low personal interest (94.9%), lack of role models (39.0%), and negative clinical experiences (25.4%) were the main deterrents. Despite a good understanding of anesthesiologists' roles, 57.9% of interested students intended to practice outside Nigeria. Binary logistic regression revealed no statistically significant sociodemographic or academic predictors of interest in anaesthesia. Conclusion: Interest in anaesthesia among Nigerian medical students remains low but higher than previously reported in other regions. Clinical exposure during rotations plays a pivotal role in shaping career preferences, suggesting that enhanced undergraduate anaesthesia training programs and improved mentorship could help address the critical shortage of anaesthetists in Nigeria's healthcare system. Anaesthesia residency training specialty preference medical students Ibadan INTRODUCTION The selection of a medical specialty represents a pivotal decision in a physician's career trajectory, with far-reaching implications for both individual practitioners and healthcare systems 1 . This choice affects not only personal career satisfaction and earning potential but also shapes the distribution of the physician workforce across specialties 2 . In Nigeria, where the physician-to-population ratio stands at 4 doctors per 10,000 people, significantly lower than developed nations like the United Kingdom with 30 doctors per 10,000, the specialty choices of medical graduates carry particular significance for healthcare delivery 3 . Among medical specialities, anaesthesia faces unique challenges in attracting new practitioners despite its crucial role in healthcare delivery. 4 , 5 Research indicates consistently low selection rates for anaesthesia across various countries: 1% in Israel, 1.4% in Ghana, and 12% in the USA, with Nigeria showing particularly concerning figures. 5 , 6 A recent study at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, revealed that only 3% of final-year medical students ranked anaesthesia as their first choice 7 . This trend has resulted in a critical shortage of anaesthetists in Nigeria, with just 0.113 anaesthetists per 100,000 population 8 . The unpopularity of anaesthesia as a career choice presents a significant challenge for healthcare delivery in Nigeria. While medical students often form strong preferences for certain specialities during their undergraduate years, anaesthesia frequently serves as a second or third choice for postgraduate trainees who fail to secure positions in their preferred specialties 9 . This pattern undermines the development of a robust anaesthesia workforce, essential for surgical care and critical medicine. While previous studies have examined medical specialty choices broadly, there remains a crucial gap in understanding the specific factors influencing anaesthesia choices within the Nigerian context, particularly in Ibadan. This study aims to investigate these factors through a cross-sectional survey of the penultimate and final-year classes of medical students at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The research is particularly timely given the recent wave of healthcare professional emigration from Nigeria, which may further impact specialty workforce distribution. By examining their choice for anaesthesia in 3 levels, i.e. as first, second and third choice, and exploring students' intentions regarding practice location, this study will provide valuable insights for addressing the current shortage of anaesthetists and inform strategies to build a more balanced medical workforce in Nigeria. METHODS Study Design and Setting The study was conducted among the penultimate and final-year medical students of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. This is one of the oldest medical schools in the country and caters to the majority of medical students in Southwestern Nigeria. The University is federal government funded and located in Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured self-administered online questionnaire. Study Population and Sampling A non-probability quota sampling was employed to ensure that the sample size was representative of the different classes. Only penultimate and final year students were sampled because they were deemed to have clearer views on the scope of medicine, having gone through all rotations. The study involved 147 consenting medical students from two consecutive final year classes. Sample Size Calculation Sample size was calculated using the Leslie Kish formula for cross-sectional studies, and adjustment was made for non-response. Prevalence was obtained from a similar previous study by Ezegwui et al 7 . Data Collection Data was collected in March 2025. The questionnaire was made up of three sections: Section A explored the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents, including academic records. Section B assessed the choice of specialty of respondents. Section C assessed the different factors that informed their decisions to choose certain specialties. Respondents were required to rank Anaesthesia as a specialty in order of their preference and indicate which of the factors examined affected their choices (Appendix 1). Data management and analysis Data was entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The information obtained was kept confidential, and participants were not required to input their names so as to maintain confidentiality. There was also no use of personal identifiers on the questionnaires. Data cleaning was done, and descriptive statistics were carried out on each questionnaire item. Chi-square tests of independence were used to test for association between the choice of specialty and sociodemographic characteristics and academic performance. Multivariate analysis was also carried out. A statistically significant level of 0.05 was used for the analysis. Ethical Considerations Ethical approval was obtained from the institution's ethics review board (UI/EC/24/01016). The principles of ethical conduct of research employed were consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics Sociodemographic variables Frequency Percentage Interest in Anaesthesia as a specialty (p-value) Level 500 56 38.1 0.416 600 91 61.9 Sex Female 60 40.8 0.311 Male 87 59.2 Age 19–22 14 9.5 0.329 23–26 118 80.3 >=27 15 10.2 Average range of scores < 50 3 2.0 0.536 50–59 65 44.2 60–69 66 44.9 ≥ 70 13 8.8 Medical doctor in the family No 114 77.6 0.525 Yes 33 22.4 The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants have been presented in Table 1 . A total of 147 students participated in the study. The majority were at the 600 level (61.9%) and male (59.2%). Most respondents (80.3%) were aged 23–26 years. Regarding academic performance, a large proportion scored between 50 and 69%. About 22.4% reported having a medical doctor in the family. However, none of these variables showed a statistically significant association with interest in Anaesthesia as a specialty. Table 2 Career Intentions and Interest in Anaesthesia Frequency Percentage Interest in Anaesthesia as a specialty (p-value) Do you intend to practice Medicine after graduation? NO 14 9.5 YES 133 90.5 Do you intend to undergo specialty training? No 3 2.0 Yes 130 88.4 Not practicing 14 9.5 Are you interested in Anaesthesia as a specialty? n = 130 Undecided 30 23.1 No 62 47.7 Yes 38 29.2 When did you make this decision? After Anaesthesia posting 51 39.2 < 0.001 Before Anaesthesia posting 25 19.2 Before medical school 13 10.0 During Anaesthesia posting 41 31.5 Ranking of interest in Anaesthesia 1st choice 12 9.2 < 0.001 2nd choice 20 15.4 3rd choice 23 17.7 Not in my Top 3 considerations 75 57.7 Do you intend to practice in Nigeria? No 76 58.5 0.818 Yes 54 41.5 Most students (90.5%) intended to practice medicine post-graduation, and 88.4% planned to undergo specialty training. Among the 130 intending to specialise, only 29.2% were interested in Anaesthesia. A significant number (39.2%) decided on Anaesthesia after the posting, with 57.7% not considering it among their top three specialty choices. The decision timing and ranking showed statistically significant associations with interest in Anaesthesia (p < 0.001). Table 3 Reasons for Interest in Anaesthesia Reason Frequency Percentage Personal interest 29 78.4% Role model 4 10.8% Clinical rotation in the department 28 75.7% Intellectual demanding 9 24.3% Potentially lucrative 35 94.6% Minimal work hours 25 67.6% Few specialists in the country 8 21.6% Working with new technologies/ procedures 23 62.2% Research opportunities 20 54.1% Shorter training period 13 35.1% Perceived ease of study 16 43.2% Prestige of specialty 11 29.7% Inspiration and guidance from God 4 10.8% Promotion prospects 5 13.5% Chose it by exclusion of other specialties 8 21.6% Among those interested in Anaesthesia (n = 38), the most cited reasons were its perceived lucrativeness (94.6%), personal interest (78.4%), and positive experience during clinical rotations (75.7%). Other motivating factors included fewer work hours (67.6%), exposure to new technologies (62.2%), and research opportunities (54.1%). Table 4 Reasons for Disinterest in Anaesthesia Reason Frequency Percentage Low personal interest 56 94.9% No role model 23 39.0% Experience during clinical rotation in the department 15 25.4% Not intellectually demanding 2 3.4% Not potentially lucrative 1 1.7% Long/unpredictable work hours 11 18.6% Parental influence 3 5.1% Few specialists in the country 1 1.7% Little opportunity to work with new technologies 6 10.2% Fewer opportunities for research 4 6.8% Longer training period 2 3.4% Perceived difficulty in studying 5 8.5% Lack of prestige of the specialty 6 10.2% Inspiration and guidance from God 11 18.6% Little promotion prospects 4 6.8% Choose it by exclusion of other specialties 3 5.1% Among students not interested in Anaesthesia (n = 62), the top 3 reasons were low personal interest (94.9%), lack of role models (39.0%) and experience during clinical rotation in the department (25.4%). 18.6% of the students also highlighted inspiration and guidance from God as well as long/unpredictable work hours as their reason for disinterest. The specialty was also perceived by some as lacking prestige or being difficult to study. Table 5 Perception Of Anaesthesia Concerning Anesthesia/Anesthesiologist: Frequency Percent Patient management is at surgery only No 127 97.7 Yes 3 2.3 Works in various parts of the hospital No 11 8.5 Yes 119 91.5 Play vital role in patient management No 4 3.1 Yes 126 96.9 Students generally demonstrated a sound understanding of the role of anaesthetists in healthcare. An overwhelming majority (97.7%) disagreed with the notion that anaesthetists are limited to surgical care, indicating recognition of the broader scope of the specialty. Additionally, 91.5% acknowledged that anaesthetists work in various departments beyond the operating theatre, and 96.9% affirmed their vital role in patient management. These findings reflect a generally positive and informed perception of the specialty among respondents, which may be a critical foundation for fostering interest in anaesthesia as a career choice Table 6 Interest in Anaesthesia as a Speciality If YES to Anaesthesia as a specialty Frequency Percentage Do you intend to practice in Nigeria? No 22 57.9 Yes 16 42.1 Ranking of interest 1st choice 12 31.6 2nd choice 14 36.8 3rd choice 8 21.1 Not in my Top 3 considerations 4 10.5 Timing of interest in Anaesthesia After anaesthesia posting 11 28.9 Before Anaesthesia posting 1 2.6 Before medical school 1 2.6 During anaesthesia posting 25 65.8 Sex Female 19 50.0 Male 19 50.0 Among the 38 students who expressed interest in pursuing anaesthesia as a specialty, more than half (57.9%) indicated that they did not intend to practice in Nigeria, with only 42.1% willing to remain in the country. Regarding their ranking of interest, anaesthesia was the first choice for 31.6%, the second choice for 36.8%, and the third choice for 21.1%, while 10.5% did not rank it among their top three considerations. Notably, the timing of interest in anaesthesia revealed that a significant proportion (65.8%) developed their interest during their anaesthesia posting, while 28.9% decided on the posting. Very few had decided before the posting (2.6%) or before medical school (2.6%). This emphasises the pivotal influence of clinical exposure during anaesthesia rotations in shaping students' specialty preferences. Table 7 Binary Logistic Regression of Interest in Anaesthesia Variables B S.E. Wald Df Sig. Exp(B) Level 500L (Reference) Level = 600 .266 .410 .419 1 .517 1.304 Do you have a medical doctor in your family No (Reference) Yes − .514 .514 1.000 1 .317 .598 What is the usual range of your test scores 50–59 (Reference) = 60–69 .170 .408 .174 1 .677 1.185 ≥ 70 − .575 .841 .468 1 .494 .563 Sex Male (Reference) Sex = Female .445 .394 1.276 1 .259 1.560 A binary logistic regression was performed to identify whether sociodemographic and academic variables were significantly associated with interest in anaesthesia as a specialty. Students in their final year (600 level) had higher odds (OR = 1.304) of being interested in anaesthesia compared to those in the 500 level, although this relationship was not statistically significant (p = 0.517). Additionally, respondents with a medical doctor in the family were less likely to express interest in anaesthesia (OR = 0.598), but the association lacked statistical significance (p = 0.317). Also, compared to students with test scores between 50–59, those scoring 60–69 had slightly increased odds of interest (OR = 1.185; p = 0.677), and those scoring ≥ 70 had decreased odds (OR = 0.563; p = 0.494). However, neither was statistically significant, suggesting that academic performance did not predict interest in anaesthesia. Finally, female respondents showed higher odds (OR = 1.560) of interest in anaesthesia compared to males, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.259). In essence, none of the variables examined (sex, level of study, academic performance, or family background in medicine) were significantly associated with interest in anaesthesia. It suggests that other factors, possibly personal interest, clinical exposure, or perceived lifestyle advantages, play a more crucial role in influencing career choice in this specialty. DISCUSSION In this study, we explored the interest of penultimate and final year students in a career in anesthesia following graduation and the factors affecting their choice of specialty. We also explored their perception of anaesthesia as a specialty and possible factors dissuading them from choosing anesthesia to identify key areas in undergraduate training that can potentially be addressed to increase interest in anaesthesia practice. In our study, 29.2% (38) of students were interested in anesthesia as a specialty, and this contrasts with the findings in other parts of the country, which have been consistently low. Only 3% of final year students in Calabar 5 , 2% of penultimate and final year students in Enugu 10 and 0.2% of final year students in a regional study involving southeastern medical schools 11 were interested in anaesthesia as a future specialty. The relatively higher interest in anaesthesia noted in this study could be explained by the fact that the comparative studies are almost 10 years old and may not be representative of the more recent trends in these areas. However, in a recent nationwide study, only 3.6% of the 439 penultimate and final year medical students picked anaesthesia as their first-choice specialty 12 . Another recent nationwide study sampling the interests of 760 final year medical students and house officers found that only 3.55% were interested in anesthesia 13 . This underscores the low interest in anaesthesia as a specialty. This low interest in anaesthesia has also been noted in other African countries like Ghana and Rwanda, where only 1.4% and 6% of final year medical students, respectively, were interested in anaesthesia. 14 , 15 Moreso, only 9% of the students in our study picked anaesthesia as their first-choice specialty and more people were interested in it as a second and third choice, with 15.4% and 17.7% interested, respectively. This trend of having interest increase from first to second and third choice was also noted in a nationwide study where 3.6%, 3.8% and 5.0% of respondents picked anaesthesia as their first, second and third-choice specialty, respectively. 12 The majority of the respondents in our study (130; 88.4%) were interested in specialty training post-graduation from medical school, and only 41.5% intend to practice in Nigeria. Out of the students interested in anaesthesia, less than half (42.1%) intend to practice in the country. This has implications for the practice of anaesthesia in the country. About a third of the participants had made their decision for or against anaesthesia before the clinical rotation in anaesthesia, while 70.7% made their decision after exposure to the clinical rotation, whether during the clinical rotations or after it. This underscores the effect that the clinical rotation experience has in shaping the interest of students in anaesthesia as a specialty. This is not surprising as almost half (47.1%) of the students with an interest in paediatrics in a study done in Ghana chose paediatrics because they enjoyed the clerkship 14 . At the University of Ibadan, exposure to anaesthesia clerkship is for 4 weeks, with the first two weeks being in the 4th year and the last two weeks in the 5th year. This relatively longer exposure to anaesthesia clerkship may also explain the higher interest in anaesthesia in our study demographic compared to other schools in the country. The top reasons for interest in anaesthesia in our study included anaesthesia being potentially lucrative (94.6%), the clinical rotation experience (75.7%) and personal interest in the specialty (78.4%). This is similar to the findings in Chan & Oku, where personal interest was the top reason for choosing a specialty 5 , 15 . Nearly half of the respondents (47.7%) were not interested in anaesthesia as a future career. Personal disinterest (94.9%), lack of access to role models in the field (39.0%), and the experience during the clinical rotations (25.4%) were the top reasons for a lack of interest in anaesthesia as a specialty. This contrasts the findings by Okonkwo et al., who found the top reasons for lack of interest to be dependence on surgeons (31.32%), lack of recognition by patients (30.92%) and minimal patient contact (27.37%) 13 . This is also quite different from the findings from a study in Ghana, where the top reasons for lack of interest are finding anaesthesia boring (38.2%), complex and difficult to understand (26.4%), and 15.3% had absolutely no reason 14 . Hence, the factors contributing to a lack of interest in anaesthesia as a specialty are multifaceted and may require targeted interventions addressing different aspects. This study investigated factors influencing the choice of Anaesthesia as a medical specialty using binary logistic regression. Although none of the variables examined, academic level, presence of a medical doctor in the family, usual test score range, and sex. were statistically significant predictors at the conventional p < .05 level, the observed trends are discussed in the context of existing literature. Students in the 6th year were more likely to choose Anaesthesia than those in the 5th year which may be due to increased clinical exposure or specialty rotations, this aligns with findings in a study by Okonkwo et al which found that students were more likely to consider Anaesthesia after completing rotations that involved direct exposure to the specialty 13 . This suggests that increased, structured, early exposure to Anaesthesia might positively influence students’ decisions. The presence of a medical doctor in the family was associated with lower odds of choosing Anaesthesia this confers with the findings of Okeke et al 16 who noted that students from medical families often gravitate towards more traditionally prestigious specialties, potentially due to familial influence. It implies that students without medical family backgrounds are more open to considering less traditionally prestigious specialties or are more influenced by personal interest rather than familial guidance. Regarding academic performance, students with test scores in the 60–69 range had slightly higher odds of selecting Anaesthesia compared to those in the 50–59 range whereas those with scores ≥ 70 had lower odds This counterintuitive trend suggests that high-performing students may be more inclined toward other specialties perceived as more competitive or prestigious. This is similar to findings in Alshahrani et al, 17 who reported that students with higher academic scores tended to choose more competitive or prestige-driven specialties such as surgery, dermatology, or radiology. Anaesthesia, while critical to healthcare systems, may be perceived as less competitive or lacking in long-term patient continuity, which can influence preferences among top academic performers. Female students were more likely than male students to choose Anaesthesia. This trend aligns with previous research indicating a growing interest in Anaesthesia among female medical students, which could be due to perceived better work-life balance and flexible schedules and fewer demands for long-term patient management compared to other clinical fields. This was also noted in a study by Alatassi. 18 In summary, although no predictor reached statistical significance, several trends were observed that could inform future research. The choice of Anaesthesia as a specialty may be influenced by complex, multifactorial considerations beyond the sociodemographic and academic variables analyzed in this study. Future studies with larger sample sizes and additional variables, such as personal interest, lifestyle preferences, mentorship experiences, and exposure to Anaesthesia, may yield more definitive conclusions. LIMITATIONS One of the main limitations of this study was our small sample size, which may not accurately represent the broader population’s sizes. This could limit the generalisability of our findings, increase the risk of random error and make it harder to detect patterns in the data. Nevertheless, our findings still provide valuable insights and serve as a useful starting point for future research. CONCLUSION This study has demonstrated a modest level of interest in anaesthesia among medical students, representing an improvement over previous Nigerian studies. Clinical exposure during anesthesia rotations emerged as the most critical factor influencing career choice, with the majority of interested students developing their preference during clinical postings. Key motivators included perceived financial prospects, personal interest, and positive clinical experiences, while lack of role models and poor clinical experiences were primary deterrents. A concerning trend is that the majority of students interested in anaesthesia intend to practice outside Nigeria, potentially worsening the existing anesthetist shortage. Sociodemographic and academic variables did not significantly predict specialty interest, suggesting that personal factors and clinical exposure are more influential than traditional predictors. To address Nigeria's critical anesthetist shortage, interventions should focus on enhancing undergraduate anesthesia clinical rotations, improving mentorship programs, and creating incentives to retain graduates within the country. These findings provide actionable insights for medical educators and policymakers working to strengthen Nigeria's anesthesia workforce. Declarations CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER Not Applicable ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank all the students and facilitators who participated in this study. AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS BAB conceptualised the study. All authors were involved in the qualitative data collection. CSH and BAB wrote the introduction section. OEO wrote the Methods section. BBA and AOO wrote the results section. OEO and CIU wrote the discussion section. AAA analysed the data. OI supervised the project and gave oversight functions. All authors read and approved the manuscript. FUNDING The authors received no funding for this work. DATA AVAILABILITY Data from this study will be available on reasonable request from the corresponding author. Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Ibadan / University College Hospital (UI/UCH) Ibadan Ethics Committee with ethical approval number 24/01016. All research was performed following the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants signed an informed consent form before participating in the study. Consent for publication Participants were made aware of the purpose of the research and how their data would be used, ensuring their confidentiality and anonymity throughout the process. By agreeing to participate, the participants also consented to the publication of the study's findings. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. 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Supplementary Files Appendix1.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 10 Dec, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Medical Education → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 05 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 04 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 30 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 13 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 13 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 13 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 11 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 05 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 30 Jul, 2025 Editor invited by journal 14 Jul, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Jul, 2025 First submitted to journal 13 Jul, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7001807","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":497097458,"identity":"4df06a02-6b5a-42f3-802e-cc87d947f53a","order_by":0,"name":"Boluwatife Adefunke Bolatito","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ibadan (COMUI)","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Boluwatife","middleName":"Adefunke","lastName":"Bolatito","suffix":""},{"id":497097459,"identity":"4d856e60-1c9a-4602-a530-cd1c6a00ee66","order_by":1,"name":"Christabel Ijeoma Uche-Orji","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ibadan (COMUI)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Christabel","middleName":"Ijeoma","lastName":"Uche-Orji","suffix":""},{"id":497097460,"identity":"858c2063-eabd-4c81-a0cb-d3644787e514","order_by":2,"name":"Abigail Olawumi Oyedokun","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ibadan (COMUI)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abigail","middleName":"Olawumi","lastName":"Oyedokun","suffix":""},{"id":497097462,"identity":"a1f6d37a-98e3-4ecc-bc85-4f6ad33b4475","order_by":3,"name":"Save Harmony Chufor","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ibadan (COMUI)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Save","middleName":"Harmony","lastName":"Chufor","suffix":""},{"id":497097464,"identity":"1dfdff82-ca2f-44d3-b0c8-da67d1da60ee","order_by":4,"name":"Eniola Oreoluwa Olatunde","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ibadan (COMUI)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Eniola","middleName":"Oreoluwa","lastName":"Olatunde","suffix":""},{"id":497097468,"identity":"207d24ef-883e-4ecb-b8bc-94dbc927ee81","order_by":5,"name":"Adeniyi Abraham Adesola","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ibadan (COMUI)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Adeniyi","middleName":"Abraham","lastName":"Adesola","suffix":""},{"id":497097470,"identity":"119ab342-8a1d-43f2-ac90-c01068196aa8","order_by":6,"name":"Olusola Idowu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University College Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Olusola","middleName":"","lastName":"Idowu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-29 09:23:16","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7001807/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7001807/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08408-9","type":"published","date":"2025-12-10T15:57:37+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":98243592,"identity":"50b4176e-25b9-4c25-844e-f2a5d68b81b7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-15 16:09:27","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1089530,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7001807/v1/75db2917-39f3-4c73-927b-e99d07208a39.pdf"},{"id":88598340,"identity":"faf404a3-5e19-460c-b7dc-49af6d33b240","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-08 07:27:46","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":16905,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Appendix1.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7001807/v1/485d0cc364f4ef3c452e0332.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eDeterminants of Proclivity for Anaesthesia as a Career Among Medical Students in a Southwestern Nigeria Tertiary Institution\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe selection of a medical specialty represents a pivotal decision in a physician's career trajectory, with far-reaching implications for both individual practitioners and healthcare systems\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This choice affects not only personal career satisfaction and earning potential but also shapes the distribution of the physician workforce across specialties\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In Nigeria, where the physician-to-population ratio stands at 4 doctors per 10,000 people, significantly lower than developed nations like the United Kingdom with 30 doctors per 10,000, the specialty choices of medical graduates carry particular significance for healthcare delivery\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong medical specialities, anaesthesia faces unique challenges in attracting new practitioners despite its crucial role in healthcare delivery.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e Research indicates consistently low selection rates for anaesthesia across various countries: 1% in Israel, 1.4% in Ghana, and 12% in the USA, with Nigeria showing particularly concerning figures.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e A recent study at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, revealed that only 3% of final-year medical students ranked anaesthesia as their first choice\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This trend has resulted in a critical shortage of anaesthetists in Nigeria, with just 0.113 anaesthetists per 100,000 population\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe unpopularity of anaesthesia as a career choice presents a significant challenge for healthcare delivery in Nigeria. While medical students often form strong preferences for certain specialities during their undergraduate years, anaesthesia frequently serves as a second or third choice for postgraduate trainees who fail to secure positions in their preferred specialties\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This pattern undermines the development of a robust anaesthesia workforce, essential for surgical care and critical medicine.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile previous studies have examined medical specialty choices broadly, there remains a crucial gap in understanding the specific factors influencing anaesthesia choices within the Nigerian context, particularly in Ibadan. This study aims to investigate these factors through a cross-sectional survey of the penultimate and final-year classes of medical students at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The research is particularly timely given the recent wave of healthcare professional emigration from Nigeria, which may further impact specialty workforce distribution. By examining their choice for anaesthesia in 3 levels, i.e. as first, second and third choice, and exploring students' intentions regarding practice location, this study will provide valuable insights for addressing the current shortage of anaesthetists and inform strategies to build a more balanced medical workforce in Nigeria.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"METHODS","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStudy Design and Setting\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study was conducted among the penultimate and final-year medical students of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. This is one of the oldest medical schools in the country and caters to the majority of medical students in Southwestern Nigeria. The University is federal government funded and located in Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured self-administered online questionnaire.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStudy Population and Sampling\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA non-probability quota sampling was employed to ensure that the sample size was representative of the different classes. Only penultimate and final year students were sampled because they were deemed to have clearer views on the scope of medicine, having gone through all rotations. The study involved 147 consenting medical students from two consecutive final year classes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSample Size Calculation\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSample size was calculated using the Leslie Kish formula for cross-sectional studies, and adjustment was made for non-response. Prevalence was obtained from a similar previous study by Ezegwui et al\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eData Collection\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eData was collected in March 2025. The questionnaire was made up of three sections: Section A explored the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents, including academic records. Section B assessed the choice of specialty of respondents. Section C assessed the different factors that informed their decisions to choose certain specialties. Respondents were required to rank Anaesthesia as a specialty in order of their preference and indicate which of the factors examined affected their choices (Appendix 1).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eData management and analysis\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eData was entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The information obtained was kept confidential, and participants were not required to input their names so as to maintain confidentiality. There was also no use of personal identifiers on the questionnaires. Data cleaning was done, and descriptive statistics were carried out on each questionnaire item. Chi-square tests of independence were used to test for association between the choice of specialty and sociodemographic characteristics and academic performance. Multivariate analysis was also carried out. A statistically significant level of 0.05 was used for the analysis.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEthical Considerations\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEthical approval was obtained from the institution's ethics review board (UI/EC/24/01016). The principles of ethical conduct of research employed were consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSociodemographic characteristics\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSociodemographic variables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterest in Anaesthesia as a specialty\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(p-value)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLevel\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e500\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.416\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e600\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e61.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSex\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.311\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e87\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e59.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAge\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u0026ndash;22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.329\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u0026ndash;26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e118\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e80.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;=27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage range of scores\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.536\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u0026ndash;59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e60\u0026ndash;69\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e66\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;70\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedical doctor in the family\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e114\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.525\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sociodemographic characteristics of the participants have been presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. A total of 147 students participated in the study. The majority were at the 600 level (61.9%) and male (59.2%). Most respondents (80.3%) were aged 23\u0026ndash;26 years. Regarding academic performance, a large proportion scored between 50 and 69%. About 22.4% reported having a medical doctor in the family. However, none of these variables showed a statistically significant association with interest in Anaesthesia as a specialty.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCareer Intentions and Interest in Anaesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterest in Anaesthesia as a specialty\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(p-value)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDo you intend to practice Medicine after graduation?\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNO\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYES\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e133\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e90.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you intend to undergo specialty training?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e130\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e88.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot practicing\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAre you interested in Anaesthesia as a specialty?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003en\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;130\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUndecided\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen did you make this decision?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter Anaesthesia posting\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore Anaesthesia posting\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore medical school\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring Anaesthesia posting\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRanking of interest in Anaesthesia\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1st choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2nd choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3rd choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot in my Top 3 considerations\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDo you intend to practice in Nigeria?\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e58.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.818\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMost students (90.5%) intended to practice medicine post-graduation, and 88.4% planned to undergo specialty training. Among the 130 intending to specialise, only 29.2% were interested in Anaesthesia. A significant number (39.2%) decided on Anaesthesia after the posting, with 57.7% not considering it among their top three specialty choices. The decision timing and ranking showed statistically significant associations with interest in Anaesthesia (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasons for Interest in Anaesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReason\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePersonal interest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e78.4%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRole model\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClinical rotation in the department\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntellectual demanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24.3%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePotentially lucrative\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMinimal work hours\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e67.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew specialists in the country\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWorking with new technologies/ procedures\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eResearch opportunities\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54.1%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eShorter training period\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.1%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerceived ease of study\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e43.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrestige of specialty\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInspiration and guidance from God\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePromotion prospects\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.5%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChose it by exclusion of other specialties\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those interested in Anaesthesia (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;38), the most cited reasons were its perceived lucrativeness (94.6%), personal interest (78.4%), and positive experience during clinical rotations (75.7%). Other motivating factors included fewer work hours (67.6%), exposure to new technologies (62.2%), and research opportunities (54.1%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReasons for Disinterest in Anaesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReason\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLow personal interest\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94.9%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo role model\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExperience during clinical rotation in the department\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25.4%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot intellectually demanding\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.4%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot potentially lucrative\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLong/unpredictable work hours\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eParental influence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.1%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew specialists in the country\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLittle opportunity to work with new technologies\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFewer opportunities for research\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLonger training period\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.4%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerceived difficulty in studying\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.5%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLack of prestige of the specialty\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInspiration and guidance from God\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e18.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLittle promotion prospects\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChoose it by exclusion of other specialties\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.1%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong students not interested in Anaesthesia (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;62), the top 3 reasons were low personal interest (94.9%), lack of role models (39.0%) and experience during clinical rotation in the department (25.4%). 18.6% of the students also highlighted inspiration and guidance from God as well as long/unpredictable work hours as their reason for disinterest. The specialty was also perceived by some as lacking prestige or being difficult to study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerception Of Anaesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eConcerning Anesthesia/Anesthesiologist:\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercent\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePatient management is at surgery only\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e127\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWorks in various parts of the hospital\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlay vital role in patient management\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e126\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e96.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStudents generally demonstrated a sound understanding of the role of anaesthetists in healthcare. An overwhelming majority (97.7%) disagreed with the notion that anaesthetists are limited to surgical care, indicating recognition of the broader scope of the specialty. Additionally, 91.5% acknowledged that anaesthetists work in various departments beyond the operating theatre, and 96.9% affirmed their vital role in patient management. These findings reflect a generally positive and informed perception of the specialty among respondents, which may be a critical foundation for fostering interest in anaesthesia as a career choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterest in Anaesthesia as a Speciality\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf YES to Anaesthesia as a specialty\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercentage\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDo you intend to practice in Nigeria?\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRanking of interest\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1st choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2nd choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3rd choice\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot in my Top 3 considerations\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTiming of interest in Anaesthesia\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter anaesthesia posting\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore Anaesthesia posting\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore medical school\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring anaesthesia posting\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSex\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the 38 students who expressed interest in pursuing anaesthesia as a specialty, more than half (57.9%) indicated that they did not intend to practice in Nigeria, with only 42.1% willing to remain in the country. Regarding their ranking of interest, anaesthesia was the first choice for 31.6%, the second choice for 36.8%, and the third choice for 21.1%, while 10.5% did not rank it among their top three considerations. Notably, the timing of interest in anaesthesia revealed that a significant proportion (65.8%) developed their interest during their anaesthesia posting, while 28.9% decided on the posting. Very few had decided before the posting (2.6%) or before medical school (2.6%). This emphasises the pivotal influence of clinical exposure during anaesthesia rotations in shaping students' specialty preferences.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab7\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 7\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBinary Logistic Regression of Interest in Anaesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eS.E.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWald\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDf\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSig.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eExp(B)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLevel\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e500L (Reference)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLevel\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;600\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.266\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.410\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.419\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.517\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.304\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDo you have a medical doctor in your family\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo (Reference)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.514\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.514\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.317\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.598\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is the usual range of your test scores\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u0026ndash;59 (Reference)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e=\u0026thinsp;60\u0026ndash;69\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.170\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.408\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.174\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.677\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.185\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;70\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.575\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.841\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.468\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.494\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.563\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale (Reference)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSex\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Female\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.445\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.394\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.276\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.259\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.560\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA binary logistic regression was performed to identify whether sociodemographic and academic variables were significantly associated with interest in anaesthesia as a specialty. Students in their final year (600 level) had higher odds (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.304) of being interested in anaesthesia compared to those in the 500 level, although this relationship was not statistically significant (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.517). Additionally, respondents with a medical doctor in the family were less likely to express interest in anaesthesia (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.598), but the association lacked statistical significance (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.317).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlso, compared to students with test scores between 50\u0026ndash;59, those scoring 60\u0026ndash;69 had slightly increased odds of interest (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.185; p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.677), and those scoring\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;70 had decreased odds (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.563; p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.494). However, neither was statistically significant, suggesting that academic performance did not predict interest in anaesthesia.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally, female respondents showed higher odds (OR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.560) of interest in anaesthesia compared to males, but this was not statistically significant (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.259). In essence, none of the variables examined (sex, level of study, academic performance, or family background in medicine) were significantly associated with interest in anaesthesia. It suggests that other factors, possibly personal interest, clinical exposure, or perceived lifestyle advantages, play a more crucial role in influencing career choice in this specialty.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn this study, we explored the interest of penultimate and final year students in a career in anesthesia following graduation and the factors affecting their choice of specialty. We also explored their perception of anaesthesia as a specialty and possible factors dissuading them from choosing anesthesia to identify key areas in undergraduate training that can potentially be addressed to increase interest in anaesthesia practice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn our study, 29.2% (38) of students were interested in anesthesia as a specialty, and this contrasts with the findings in other parts of the country, which have been consistently low. Only 3% of final year students in Calabar\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, 2% of penultimate and final year students in Enugu\u003csup\u003e10\u003c/sup\u003e and 0.2% of final year students in a regional study involving southeastern medical schools\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e were interested in anaesthesia as a future specialty. The relatively higher interest in anaesthesia noted in this study could be explained by the fact that the comparative studies are almost 10 years old and may not be representative of the more recent trends in these areas. However, in a recent nationwide study, only 3.6% of the 439 penultimate and final year medical students picked anaesthesia as their first-choice specialty\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Another recent nationwide study sampling the interests of 760 final year medical students and house officers found that only 3.55% were interested in anesthesia\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This underscores the low interest in anaesthesia as a specialty. This low interest in anaesthesia has also been noted in other African countries like Ghana and Rwanda, where only 1.4% and 6% of final year medical students, respectively, were interested in anaesthesia.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e Moreso, only 9% of the students in our study picked anaesthesia as their first-choice specialty and more people were interested in it as a second and third choice, with 15.4% and 17.7% interested, respectively. This trend of having interest increase from first to second and third choice was also noted in a nationwide study where 3.6%, 3.8% and 5.0% of respondents picked anaesthesia as their first, second and third-choice specialty, respectively.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e The majority of the respondents in our study (130; 88.4%) were interested in specialty training post-graduation from medical school, and only 41.5% intend to practice in Nigeria. Out of the students interested in anaesthesia, less than half (42.1%) intend to practice in the country. This has implications for the practice of anaesthesia in the country.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbout a third of the participants had made their decision for or against anaesthesia before the clinical rotation in anaesthesia, while 70.7% made their decision after exposure to the clinical rotation, whether during the clinical rotations or after it. This underscores the effect that the clinical rotation experience has in shaping the interest of students in anaesthesia as a specialty. This is not surprising as almost half (47.1%) of the students with an interest in paediatrics in a study done in Ghana chose paediatrics because they enjoyed the clerkship\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. At the University of Ibadan, exposure to anaesthesia clerkship is for 4 weeks, with the first two weeks being in the 4th year and the last two weeks in the 5th year. This relatively longer exposure to anaesthesia clerkship may also explain the higher interest in anaesthesia in our study demographic compared to other schools in the country.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe top reasons for interest in anaesthesia in our study included anaesthesia being potentially lucrative (94.6%), the clinical rotation experience (75.7%) and personal interest in the specialty (78.4%). This is similar to the findings in Chan \u0026amp; Oku, where personal interest was the top reason for choosing a specialty\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNearly half of the respondents (47.7%) were not interested in anaesthesia as a future career. Personal disinterest (94.9%), lack of access to role models in the field (39.0%), and the experience during the clinical rotations (25.4%) were the top reasons for a lack of interest in anaesthesia as a specialty. This contrasts the findings by Okonkwo et al., who found the top reasons for lack of interest to be dependence on surgeons (31.32%), lack of recognition by patients (30.92%) and minimal patient contact (27.37%)\u003csup\u003e13\u003c/sup\u003e. This is also quite different from the findings from a study in Ghana, where the top reasons for lack of interest are finding anaesthesia boring (38.2%), complex and difficult to understand (26.4%), and 15.3% had absolutely no reason\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Hence, the factors contributing to a lack of interest in anaesthesia as a specialty are multifaceted and may require targeted interventions addressing different aspects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study investigated factors influencing the choice of Anaesthesia as a medical specialty using binary logistic regression. Although none of the variables examined, academic level, presence of a medical doctor in the family, usual test score range, and sex. were statistically significant predictors at the conventional p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.05 level, the observed trends are discussed in the context of existing literature.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStudents in the 6th year were more likely to choose Anaesthesia than those in the 5th year which may be due to increased clinical exposure or specialty rotations, this aligns with findings in a study by Okonkwo et al which found that students were more likely to consider Anaesthesia after completing rotations that involved direct exposure to the specialty\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This suggests that increased, structured, early exposure to Anaesthesia might positively influence students\u0026rsquo; decisions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe presence of a medical doctor in the family was associated with lower odds of choosing Anaesthesia this confers with the findings of Okeke et al\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e who noted that students from medical families often gravitate towards more traditionally prestigious specialties, potentially due to familial influence. It implies that students without medical family backgrounds are more open to considering less traditionally prestigious specialties or are more influenced by personal interest rather than familial guidance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegarding academic performance, students with test scores in the 60\u0026ndash;69 range had slightly higher odds of selecting Anaesthesia compared to those in the 50\u0026ndash;59 range whereas those with scores\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;70 had lower odds This counterintuitive trend suggests that high-performing students may be more inclined toward other specialties perceived as more competitive or prestigious. This is similar to findings in Alshahrani et al,\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e who reported that students with higher academic scores tended to choose more competitive or prestige-driven specialties such as surgery, dermatology, or radiology. Anaesthesia, while critical to healthcare systems, may be perceived as less competitive or lacking in long-term patient continuity, which can influence preferences among top academic performers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale students were more likely than male students to choose Anaesthesia. This trend aligns with previous research indicating a growing interest in Anaesthesia among female medical students, which could be due to perceived better work-life balance and flexible schedules and fewer demands for long-term patient management compared to other clinical fields. This was also noted in a study by Alatassi.\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn summary, although no predictor reached statistical significance, several trends were observed that could inform future research. The choice of Anaesthesia as a specialty may be influenced by complex, multifactorial considerations beyond the sociodemographic and academic variables analyzed in this study. Future studies with larger sample sizes and additional variables, such as personal interest, lifestyle preferences, mentorship experiences, and exposure to Anaesthesia, may yield more definitive conclusions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLIMITATIONS\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the main limitations of this study was our small sample size, which may not accurately represent the broader population\u0026rsquo;s sizes. This could limit the generalisability of our findings, increase the risk of random error and make it harder to detect patterns in the data. Nevertheless, our findings still provide valuable insights and serve as a useful starting point for future research.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study has demonstrated a modest level of interest in anaesthesia among medical students, representing an improvement over previous Nigerian studies. Clinical exposure during anesthesia rotations emerged as the most critical factor influencing career choice, with the majority of interested students developing their preference during clinical postings. Key motivators included perceived financial prospects, personal interest, and positive clinical experiences, while lack of role models and poor clinical experiences were primary deterrents.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA concerning trend is that the majority of students interested in anaesthesia intend to practice outside Nigeria, potentially worsening the existing anesthetist shortage. Sociodemographic and academic variables did not significantly predict specialty interest, suggesting that personal factors and clinical exposure are more influential than traditional predictors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo address Nigeria's critical anesthetist shortage, interventions should focus on enhancing undergraduate anesthesia clinical rotations, improving mentorship programs, and creating incentives to retain graduates within the country. These findings provide actionable insights for medical educators and policymakers working to strengthen Nigeria's anesthesia workforce.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot Applicable\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eACKNOWLEDGEMENTS\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to thank all the students and facilitators who participated in this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBAB conceptualised the study. All authors were involved in the qualitative data collection. CSH and BAB wrote the introduction section. OEO wrote the Methods section. BBA and AOO wrote the results section. \u0026nbsp;OEO and CIU wrote the discussion section. AAA analysed the data. OI supervised the project and gave oversight functions. All authors read and approved the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFUNDING\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors received no funding for this work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDATA AVAILABILITY\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData from this study will be available on reasonable request from the corresponding author.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthical approval was obtained from the University of Ibadan / University College Hospital (UI/UCH) Ibadan Ethics Committee with ethical approval number\u0026nbsp;24/01016. All research was performed following the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants signed an informed consent form before participating in the study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants were made aware of the purpose of the research and how their data would be used, ensuring their confidentiality and anonymity throughout the process. By agreeing to participate, the participants also consented to the publication of the study\u0026apos;s findings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMohammed TA, Abdulrahman AA, Saud KA, Alaa NT. Specialty preferences and factors affecting future career choice among medical graduates in Saudi. 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Syst Rev Cureus. 2024;16(11). \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.73213\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.7759/cureus.73213\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlshahrani M, Dhafery B, Almulhim M, Bukhamsin N, Alkhadra F, Albagshi D. Factors influencing Saudi medical students and interns\u0026rsquo; choice of future specialty: a self-administered questionnaire. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2014;5:397\u0026ndash;402. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.2147/amep.s69152\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.2147/amep.s69152\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlatassi A, AlKhilaiwi R, Almohawis A, Alhumaid T, Almazyad K, Bustami R. Medical students\u0026rsquo; attitude toward anesthesia as a future career. Saudi J Anaesth. 2018;12(2):215. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.4103/sja.sja_367_17\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.4103/sja.sja_367_17\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-medical-education","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"meed","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Medical Education](http://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/meed/default.aspx","title":"BMC Medical Education","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Anaesthesia, residency training, specialty preference, medical students, Ibadan","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7001807/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7001807/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eBackground: Nigeria faces a critical shortage of anaesthetists with only 0.113 per 100,000 population, exacerbated by consistently low selection rates for anaesthesia among medical graduates. This study investigated factors influencing medical students' interest in anaesthesia as a career choice.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMethods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 147 final-year and penultimate medical students at University College Hospital, Ibadan, using a structured self-administered online questionnaire. Data were collected in March 2025 and analysed using SPSS version 27. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were performed to identify associations.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResults: Only 29.2% of students intending to specialise expressed interest in anaesthesia, with merely 9.2% ranking it as their first choice. The timing of interest development was significantly associated with clinical exposure; 65.8% developed interest during their anaesthesia posting, and 28.9% after the posting (p\u0026lt;0.001). Primary motivating factors included perceived lucrativeness (94.6%), personal interest (78.4%), and positive clinical rotation experiences (75.7%). Conversely, low personal interest (94.9%), lack of role models (39.0%), and negative clinical experiences (25.4%) were the main deterrents. Despite a good understanding of anesthesiologists' roles, 57.9% of interested students intended to practice outside Nigeria. Binary logistic regression revealed no statistically significant sociodemographic or academic predictors of interest in anaesthesia.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConclusion: Interest in anaesthesia among Nigerian medical students remains low but higher than previously reported in other regions. Clinical exposure during rotations plays a pivotal role in shaping career preferences, suggesting that enhanced undergraduate anaesthesia training programs and improved mentorship could help address the critical shortage of anaesthetists in Nigeria's healthcare system.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Determinants of Proclivity for Anaesthesia as a Career Among Medical Students in a Southwestern Nigeria Tertiary Institution","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-08 07:27:41","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7001807/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-09-05T05:48:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-04T20:05:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"106063802849799560311352416055858338062","date":"2025-09-02T15:38:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-30T10:16:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"215551540312126494222232284217404897326","date":"2025-08-18T13:20:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-14T03:12:40+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"177992329187660060777025773328203868603","date":"2025-08-14T00:16:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-13T11:16:07+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"149051915212819065263569947866571811698","date":"2025-08-11T18:35:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"231164637741605315259874733174202203895","date":"2025-08-07T10:20:08+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-05T11:51:23+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-07-30T12:36:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-07-14T10:18:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-07-14T07:15:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Medical Education","date":"2025-07-13T22:29:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-medical-education","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"meed","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Medical Education](http://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/meed/default.aspx","title":"BMC Medical Education","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a9da6650-4972-43e9-bbaa-bb396020ac1b","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 8th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-12-15T16:01:39+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7001807","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08408-9","journal":{"identity":"bmc-medical-education","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Medical Education"},"publishedOn":"2025-12-10 15:57:37","publishedOnDateReadable":"December 10th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-08 07:27:41","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12909-025-08408-9","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08408-9","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7001807","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7001807","identity":"rs-7001807","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}