A survey on the impressions 500 level medical students of the University of Benin have about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists was carried out from May to August 1999. The survey showed the mean age of the students to be 25.3 years and a male to female ratio of 3:1. The study also showed that 170 (82.5%) of the students were unaware of the scope of anaesthesia before the posting. After the posting, this figure decreased to 58 (34.5%) (chi2 = 11.7, p < 0.05, df = 2). Approximately same number of females (71.1%) and males (72.3%) had low awareness (unaware and limited awareness) about the scope of anaesthesia. However, more males (16.9%) were fully aware about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists than female students (9.4%). Similarly, 76 (54.3%) of the students knew that anaethesiologists were doctors before the posting. This figure improved to 109 (85.2%) after the posting and was statistically significant. Interest in the specialty was exhibited by only 2 (2%) of the students before the posting and 21 (25%) of them became interested during and 4 (5%), after the posting in anaesthesia. The impressions had by those uninterested in anaesthesia include the unchallenging, non-lucrative and stereotyped nature of the specialty. It also included the dependency of the specialty on other specialties and that it attracted dull, lazy doctors whose job was unrecognized. This study's findings suggest the need for better exposure of medical students to anaesthesia to increase awareness and for the specialty to grow.
Keywords: medical students, awareness, anaesthesia, anaesthesiologists.