title: The Perceived Value of the American Board of Anesthesiology Certificate: A Survey of 2,000 Anesthesiologists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was undertaken in order to identify anesthesiologists' perceptions regarding the value of the ABA certificate.
  
  
  METHODS
  2,000 anesthesiologists received a 31-item survey designed to identify their demographics and their assessments of the functional and financial value of the certificate. Functional value was assessed using a five-point scale in the domains of professional recognition, personal satisfaction, job security, mobility and advancement, whether the certificate was necessary to obtain an academic or a clinical position, and whether it served as an indicator of depth or breadth of anesthesia knowledge or of clinical competence. Perceived professional lifetime financial value of the certificate was also assessed. Return response rate was 45.4%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and student's t-tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ABA certificate was perceived to be most valuable in obtaining an academic position (3.4 ± .9) and least valuable in indicating clinical competence (1.6 ± 1.2). Certified anesthesiologists consistently ascribed greater value to it than non-certified ones (p<.001) on all but the academic domain. No gender differences were observed except that females attributed a greater value to the certificate as a requisite for achieving job security. Sixty percent responded that certified anesthesiologists should earn more than non-certified ones and 54% ascribed to a professional lifetime financial value of over $100,000 to ABA certification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although perceived as an objective credentialing instrument which could aid one's career, the ABA certificate was not viewed as an indicator of clinical competence.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos