Anaesthesia Career Interest Among Medical Students

Introduction: Anaesthesia is critical to surgical safety and emergency care, yet it remains an underrepresented career choice among medical graduates in low- and middle-income countries like Sierra Leone. Factors such as limited undergraduate exposure, lack of mentorship, and misconceptions about the specialty contribute to this trend. Understanding the perceptions of medical students is essential to addressing the workforce gap.  Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted between January and May 2025 among final-year (Part I and II) MBBS students at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Sierra Leone. Using Slovin’s formula and quota sampling, 139 students were selected. Data were collected using structured questionnaires covering demographics, knowledge, awareness, and career preference. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, while open-ended responses were analyzed thematically. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained.  Results: All participants (100%) were aware of Anaesthesiology, but only 2.9% rated their knowledge as "very good." Only 4.3% of students expressed interest in pursuing the specialty, while 61.9% were undecided. Most became aware of Anaesthesiology during their fourth year. Misconceptions were common, including beliefs that anaesthetists have limited patient interaction and work exclusively in operating theatres. Subspecialty recognition was limited. Students cited improved mentorship (48.9%) and enhanced teaching (30.9%) as motivators for career consideration.  Conclusions: Despite universal awareness, interest in Anaesthesiology as a career among final-year medical students at COMAHS remains low due to limited exposure, weak mentorship, and prevalent misconceptions. Interventions such as early curricular integration, structured mentorship, and awareness campaigns are needed to improve interest and recruitment into the field.