Factors affecting the choice of anesthesiology by medical students for specialty training

To learn some of the reasons why anesthesiology as a specialty is not preferred by more graduating medical students and to determine the effects of various factors on their specialty choice, the authors studied the number of medical students who chose anesthesiology as a specialty after graduation and the quality of clerkships available in various departments. The study established that medical students do not find anesthesiology as attractive as other specialties and that several factors are related to the students' choice of anesthesiology. Most surprising was the negative effect of the presence of certified registered nurse anesthetists on the operating room floor. These results suggest the need for a thorough study of the use of nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, and nurse-clinicians, at least where teaching of medical students is taking place.