Comparative Evaluation of Awareness About Anaesthesia and Local Anaesthetic Toxicity Among 2nd Year MBBS Students and Interns

Abstract

Background: Anaesthesiology is an integral yet often underappreciated branch of medical science. Understanding its principles, particularly the awareness about anaesthetic techniques and the potentially life-threatening complications of local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), is essential for all medical practitioners. Undergraduate medical education often leaves gaps in practical anaesthesia knowledge, which may improve through clinical exposure during internships. This study aims to evaluate and compare the awareness of anaesthesia and local anaesthetic toxicity between 2nd year MBBS students and medical interns.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 100 medical students, divided into two groups: 50 2nd-year MBBS students and 50 interns. A structured questionnaire consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions (10 on general anaesthesia and 10 on local anaesthetic toxicity) was used. The responses were analyzed for accuracy and compared between the groups using statistical tools such as the Chi-square test.
Results: Interns demonstrated significantly higher awareness in both domains compared to 2nd-year students. The mean score of interns for anaesthesia-related questions was 7.8
± 1.2 out of 10, compared to 5.4 ± 1.5 among 2nd-year students (p < 0.01). For local anaesthetic toxicity-related questions, interns scored 7.2 ± 1.3 while 2nd-year students scored 4.9 ± 1.6 (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Clinical exposure during internship significantly enhances understanding and awareness of anaesthetic practices and associated toxicities. Early integration of anaesthesia teaching in the undergraduate curriculum, including simulation-based modules and hands-on experience, is recommended.