• K Chaulier, C-E Ber, B Allaouchiche, and T Rimmelé.
• Service de réanimation, centre hospitalier général, 69400 Villefranche-sur-Saône, France. kevinchaulier@yahoo.fr
• Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2010 Jul 1;29(7-8):536-42.

ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing the choice of the specialty "anesthesiology and intensive care" by medical students at the end of the second cycle of the French medical curriculum. This study had three aims: to measure the attraction of students for this specialty, to assess the perception of this specialty at this stage of the medical studies, and to study the influence of the teaching of "anesthesiology and intensive care" during this second cycle on student perceptions of the specialty.Study DesignDescriptive study.Material And MethodsWe conducted an anonymous survey among 407 medical students who were at the end of their sixth year of their medical studies, and who were enrolled in one of the four schools of medicine in Lyon, France, for the university year 2007-2008.ResultsThree hundred and twenty-eight surveys were analyzed. The specialty "anesthesiology and intensive care" was ranked third overall in terms of preferred specialties. Intensive care was rated the most attractive component, and respondents in particular noted its multisystem perspective and perceived utility. Anesthesiology was in general seen as highly technical and potentially lucrative, but holding increased medicolegal risk. The hospital training courses were highly rated by the students, who believed these to be the best way to learn about this specialty. However, respondents indicated that not enough hospital training courses were available, and only training courses in the intensive care units and the prehospital care department led the students towards this specialty. Accordingly, the nature and practice of anesthesiology were less well-known by students.ConclusionNumerous medical students want to become intensivists. Anesthesiology is less well-known at this stage of the medical studies. The teaching of the "anesthesiology and intensive care" specialty needs to be optimized.Copyright 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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