FP582

Ophthalmology as a career option among house surgeons in South India- A cross sectional study

AIM: - To study the factors influencing house surgeons to choose Ophthalmology as a career branch following post-graduation entrance exam.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: - It was a descriptive, cross sectional questionnaire-based study carried out among house surgeons at tertiary academic institutes in South India. In this survey tool questions were divided into different sections. 
RESULTS: Majority respondents were female. Major influencing factors were good personal-professional life balance with minimum emergency and night calls and discouraging factors being high cost of basic establishment and instruments and must of fellowship after post-graduation. Exposure to ophthalmology during internship was inadequate. 
CONCLUSION: Adequate clinical exposure and experience to the subject during UG/internship can create a positive impact while steep learning curve and high expenditure may negatively influence the decision of students in taking ophthalmology as a career option.