Assessment of surgical patients’ knowledge about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist in a tertiary care teaching institute-a survey

Abstract

Background: Anaesthesia is a speciality, playing a crucial role in the perioperative care of patients. Complex surgeries are facilitated due to the anaesthesiologists catering to the ever-advancing surgical field requirements. Although an important speciality, patients are unaware of the speciality of anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist. Patients are subjecting themselves for surgical procedures without having adequate knowledge of anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist. Hence, the survey was designed with the aim to assess the patients’ knowledge about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist in surgical patients.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted on four hundred surgical inpatients using predesigned questionnaire containing questions related to the knowledge of anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist. The results were expressed as percentages. Chi-square/ Fisher Exact test was used to find the significance of study parameters.Results: Anaesthesiologists were considered as “doctors” by 60.5% of patients; Thirty three percent of the survey population had “no idea” of Anaesthesia. The survey populations’ knowledge about complications was 32.25%. Awareness about separate consent for anaesthesia was 49%. Anaesthesiologists’ work place was not known to 77.5% of survey population. Anaesthesiologists’ role in operation theatre was known only in 59.5% and remaining 40.5% were unaware of Anaesthesiologists’ role. None of the patients preferred to meet the Anaesthesiologists before surgery.Conclusions: Surgical inpatients in tertiary care hospital have a poor understanding of anaesthesia and poor recognition of the role of anaesthesiologist. The knowledge about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist is not known in general population. Hence, anaesthesiologists must work towards getting recognition for the speciality of anaesthesiology and the anaesthesiologists.

Assessment of patient’s perception and knowledge towards anesthesia services at Dilla University Referral Hospital, South Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study

“…The results of this study showed that there is misunderstanding and misconception about the meaning of anesthesia as well as the role of the anesthetist. The majority of the patients in our study had poor knowledge of anesthesia and the role of anesthetist which is in line with a study conducted in India which stated patients globally, especially in less developed countries, have little or limited knowledge regarding anesthesia and limited access as there is a severe shortage of anesthetist and limited supply of anesthesia in low-resourced settings12. Findings of most surveys done in different parts of the world reveal that fewer than 2 of 3 patients know that anesthetists are physicians, with a seeming trend of patients in developing countries having poorer knowledge compared with those in developed countries9,11.…”

“…Even though significant successes observed in surgery are closely coupled to advances in anesthesia and anesthetic techniques, anesthesia has always been misunderstood as a "behind the scenes" specialty [11,12] . Some patients have misconceptions concerning anesthesia, which influences their decision to seek a surgical consult, and their willingness to undergo anesthesia and surgical interventions, especially in developing countries [11,13,14] .…”

“…Despite the advancements in anesthesia, there is inadequate public knowledge regarding the specialty and the scope of the functions of anesthetists, as well as the pivotal role anesthetists, play in the health care delivery system. Patients in developing nations have been reported to have less knowledge about anesthetists compared with those in developed countries [12,22,23] .…”

Assessing Patients’ Knowledge on Anesthesia Services at Tamale Teaching Hospital

“…In terms of knowledge of anesthesia, Marulasiddappa and Nethra (2018) stated patients globally, especially in less developed countries, have little or limited knowledge regarding anesthesia and limited access as there is a severe shortage of anesthesiologists and limited supply of anesthesia in low-resourced settings. This assertion was confirmed in this study as a significant number of patients had poor knowledge of anesthesia.…”

“…Hence, there is a widespread public misconception about the role of anesthetists and their responsibilities inside or outside the operating room. Poor public knowledge of anesthesia and the role of anesthetists has been documented in developing and developed countries ( Marulasiddappa & Nethra, 2018 ). In Ghana, a study conducted in 2015 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra with 279 patients showed that nearly half the patients indicated anesthesia was all about “putting people to sleep and waking them up” ( Aniteye, 2014 ; pp.…”