title: A survey of undergraduate anesthesia rotation in medical colleges of Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Student perceptions of specialties influence career choice decisions. It is important to expose undergraduates to the scope of rewarding careers in specialties like anesthesia by ensuring a good quality educational experience during anesthesia rotation. Our objective was to survey the curriculum structure and placement of the anesthesia undergraduate rotation in all the medical colleges of Pakistan recognized by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardized survey questionnaire was distributed by direct contact, postal mail or e mail to one identified anesthetist in all recognized medical colleges with enrolment of 100 or more students. The response rate was 75%. We received responses by hand, email and postal mail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We received responses from 15 out of 20 anesthetists contacted. 11 reported undergraduate anesthesia rotation while 4 reported absence of this rotation in their undergraduate curriculum. The rotation placement, duration and curriculum showed a wide variation and lack of standardization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our survey indicates that the inclusion of anesthesia rotation in undergraduate medical education is not mandatory and standardized. The rotation duration, placement and curriculum need to be standardized to enhance the quality of the experience and promote the scope of the specialty for rewarding careers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fauzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minai
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M Irfan
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ul Haq
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Gauhar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Afshan
keywords: Anesthesia; Anesthetists should play a more active and academically visible role in undergraduate medical education; rotation curriculum; undergraduate medical education