Perception of pediatric anesthesiology training in Colombia: a qualitative study

Introduction: The development of pediatric anesthesiology worldwide recognizes the clinical challenges of the pediatric population, as well as their differences from adults, increasing access to training opportunities. In Colombia, recognizing training in this discipline has not been possible, as it is considered non-pertinent and restrictive of the practice of anesthesiology. Objective: To describe the perception of a group of healthcare professionals doing anesthesia-related work for pediatric surgical care in Bogotá regarding training in pediatric anesthesiology in Colombia. Methods: Descriptive qualitative approach, in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with a group of healthcare professionals doing anesthesia-related work during pediatric surgical care. They were selected using the maximum variation search technique with snowball sampling recruitment. Recruitment was stopped when interview saturation was found. A thematic network analysis was developed using the MAXQDA 24.1.0 software. Results: Three overarching themes were identified: the limitations of pediatric anesthesia practice in Colombia, the strengthening of competencies in pediatric anesthesiology, and strategies to optimize and promote training in pediatric anesthesia. Conclusion: Strengthening training in pediatric anesthesiology in Colombia is essential from the perspective of the relevance of medical education, recognizing the peculiarities of children, as well as the challenges for the practice of this discipline in the country.