Title: Anaesthesiology- Patient perception and knowledge about the specialty and the specialist
Authors: Dr Manjit George, Mr Jinu Kurian, Dr D Girijanandan Menon, Dr Kiron Jacob Johncy, Dr Shaloo Ipe
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i5.106
Abstract
Background: A certain level of knowledge about different types of anaesthesia is imperative for the patient undergoing surgery. Use of newer drugs and advances in technology has revolutionized practice of anaesthesia. The public’s knowledge about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist remains poor. There is an excellent opportunity to improve this through social media. This study was done in our hospital, in 100 patients posted for elective surgeries.
Aim: To assess the patients’ knowledge of anaesthesia and role of anaesthesiologist.
Study Design: Cross sectional study over 2 months.
Methods: A pre designed questionnaire was used for evaluation of patient knowledge regarding the different types of anaesthesia and the role of anaesthesiologist.
Results: The completed questionnaires were analyzed. Age of the participants varied from 16 to 72 years, with equal number of males and females. Majority of study participants had high school education or above. Most of the patients used whatsapp and/or facebook. More than one third of the patients had at least one previous exposure to anaesthesia. Knowledge about the different techniques of anaesthesia varied widely. Awareness about importance of pre-operative fasting was restricted to 65%. Only 21% rightly answered about the routes of administration of general anaesthesia. Very few patients knew about the different types of regional anaesthesia methods, its advantages and complications. Most patients knew that anaesthesiologists were doctors and anaesthesiology was a separate medical specialty, but only very few clearly understood the perioperative roles of an anaesthesiologist.
Conclusion: Patient perception about anaesthesiology and anaesthesiologist remains poor, even in this era of information technology, despite all the recent advances witnessed by this specialty.
Keywords: patient perception, awareness, education, anaesthesiology, anaesthesia, anesthesiologist