The public perception of the anaesthesiologist in Romania: a survey

Abstract

Background. Previous studies have shown that the public perception of anaesthesiologists' duties regarding perioperative management lacks a good understanding. The aim of this study was to assess the public perception of the anaesthesiologist's role before, during and after surgery, in Romania.Method. The prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken between January 2015 and August 2016. A questionnaire that comprised 23 questions was uploaded on Google at https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/1KxC8jSYydhEu3pn0Hr0LHEsuCEQLSEHQqUo_HzrHuw8/viewform. The link was forwarded on-line randomly (mail, social media). The questions were structured based on current literature. Inclusion criteria were people aged >15 years and not directly related to any medical activity. The answers were anonymously registered, in real time, in an Excel format, used later to process the statistics.Results. 1153 people completed the questionnaire, 61% female and 39% male, 80.8% being from the urban area and 19.2% from the countryside. 62.7% were hospitalized in the past, and 49.8% had undergone at least one surgery. From the questioned group 65.2% had graduated university, and 64.3% were aged between 20 and 40 years. A majority of 1089 respondents (94.6%) knew that the anaesthesiologist was responsible for providing anaesthesia in the operating room. 26.6% considered that the surgeon and the anaesthesiologist played different roles in OR, but 54.4% understood that there is a collaboration between them during surgery. Only 36.2% were aware that the anaesthesiologist replaces blood losses and provides patients hemodynamic stability and proper oxygenation during surgery. 54.6% believe that the surgeon decides upon the postoperative pain management and only 32% know the anaesthesiologist is the physician in charge of intensive care patients. 79.5% of respondents are willing to receive from their anaesthesiologist detailed information, regarding anaesthesia and postoperative care, before surgery, and consider that more publicity should be made regarding this profession.Conclusion. The public perception of the anaesthesiologist's role in Romania is inaccurate in spite of the fact that a large group in our study comprised highly educated people living in urban areas. We consider that further strengthening of the anaesthesiologist/patient relationship and an increased media exposure of our specialty would help to improve its social perception.

Pacientų Požiūris Į Anesteziologo Vaidmenį Gydymo Procese

“…[3] ir 86 proc. [7] Rumunijos bendroje populiacijoje atliktame tyrime dauguma apklaustųjų mano, kad pooperacinis skausmo valdymas (POSV) ir pooperacinė priežiūra yra chirurgo atsakomybė [10]. Šios nuomonės skirtumai priklauso nuo studijoje nustatyto išsilavinimo lygio -aukštesnio išsilavinimo pacientai supranta, jog anesteziologas atlieka pooperacinę analgeziją ir priežiūrą.…”

Public Awareness and Knowledge About Anesthesiology and the Role of Anesthesiologists in Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia

“…Worldwide, studies have revealed poor public knowledge about the specialty of anesthesiology and the role of anesthesiologists. Therefore, assessing the knowledge regarding anesthesiology in Saudi Arabia has been investigated to determine if there is a deficiency in the level of anesthetic knowledge in the region [5][6][7].…”

Duties of Anaesthetists and Assessment of Awareness, Concerns, and Expectations on Anaesthesia Practices

“…The level of knowledge about this topic varies according to certain factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, age, sex, and anaesthesia experience. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The patient's limited level of knowledge about anaesthesia increases anxiety, which adversely affects the perioperative period and postoperative recovery. 9,11 Through a survey administered to the patients and/or their relatives who were admitted to our hospital for elective surgery, we aimed to evaluate a part of Turkish society's level of knowledge about anaesthesia and anaesthetists, to determine the reasons for anxiety, and to compare the differences in knowledge and anxiety according to sex, education level, and acquired anaesthesia experience, to identify inaccurate or missing knowledge about the topic, and determine what anaesthetists should do about this topic.…”

“…The level of knowledge about this topic varies according to certain factors such as socioeconomic status, education level, age, sex, and anaesthesia experience. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 The patient’s limited level of knowledge about anaesthesia increases anxiety, which adversely affects the perioperative period and postoperative recovery. 9 , 11 …”