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

Numerous factors that influence the choice of anaesthesiology as a career have been described. Previously, personality and intrinsic aspects of the job were marked as important influences in choosing anaesthesiology as a career.3,4 Recent literature, however, revealed a manageable lifestyle and better working conditions as more important.5,6 Other key influences noted were undergraduate and postgraduate exposure to the specialty, as well as role models within the specialty.3,6 Additional factors identified were related to the intrinsic nature of anaesthesiology: “hands-on”, practical, immediate gratification with the work (immediate results), and the applicability of physiology and pharmacology.4,6-8 Differences between gender have been identified, with females increasingly opting for specialties allowing for part-time work.3,9 Studies on choosing anaesthesiology as a career have been conducted in developing countries,10-13 including African countries such as Rwanda14 and Ghana,15 that have a severe shortage of anaesthetists. The findings of these studies are similar to those in developed countries.6-8,16 Studies have found that increased exposure to anaesthesiology at an undergraduate level as well as during an internship, improved the likelihood of someone choosing anaesthesiology as a career.13,14