Veterinary students' attitudes toward anesthesiology as a specialty

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Specialization in veterinary medicine is a growing field.
• Understanding student perceptions is crucial for future recruitment in specialized areas like anesthesiology.
• Veterinary anesthesiology plays a vital role in animal patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the perceptions of veterinary students regarding specialization in veterinary anesthesiology.
• To explore factors influencing veterinary students' interest in pursuing a career in anesthesiology.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, multi-institutional survey was administered to 303 veterinary students across 10 institutions.
• Quantitative data were collected using 5-point Likert scale questions, and qualitative data from open-ended questions.
• Statistical analyses included multivariate logistic regression and Spearman's rank correlation to identify predictors of interest in anesthesiology.

Main Results:

• Only 6% of respondents chose veterinary anesthesia as their specialty.
• A significant positive relationship was found between interest in anesthesiology and enjoyment of anesthesia courses, interest in pharmacology, and perceived importance of anesthesia and analgesia.
• Enjoyment of anesthesia class and finding anesthesia interesting were significant predictors for considering a career in veterinary anesthesiology.

Conclusions:

• Veterinary students interested in pharmacology and those who enjoyed their anesthesia courses are more likely to consider a career in anesthesiology.
• Even students not pursuing anesthesiology recognize its value and the respect for anesthesiologists among peers.
• Enhancing anesthesia education and highlighting the importance of pharmacology may encourage more students to consider this specialty.