Abstract

Background: The choice of medical speciality is influenced by perceptions, motivators, and barriers. This study explores these factors affecting the selection of anaesthesia as a career among final-year medical students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to May 2025 among final-year MBBS students who had completed their mandatory two-week anaesthesia rotation. Of the 80 students in the 2024/2025 graduating class, 66 consented and completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 23.0.
Results: Of the 80 eligible final-year students, 66 (response rate 82.5%) participated. Most respondents (60.6%) intended to pursue postgraduate specialisation. Surgery was the most preferred speciality (21.2%), followed by anaesthesia and internal medicine (12.1% each). Primary motivators for choosing anaesthesia were immediate patient impact (25.8%), high earning potential (18.2%), and diverse clinical experience (16.7%). Key barriers were limited exposure during medical school (30.3%), non-availability of residency training posts in anaesthesia (21.2%), and lack of patient acknowledgement (19.7%). 72.7% correctly identified the anaesthetist as the professional responsible for determining fitness for anaesthesia.

Conclusion: Anaesthesia enjoys moderate interest among final-year students, but limited undergraduate exposure and scarcity of residency positions remain major barriers. Increased clinical exposure, early electives, and improved awareness of the anaesthetist’s role may enhance recruitment into the speciality in Nigeria.

Key words: Anaesthesia; Career choice; Medical students; Motivation; Barriers; Nigeria