KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANESTHESIA AND PERCEPTION ABOUT ANESTHESIOLOGISTS AMONG PATIENTS AT A RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Abstract

Background: Our patients are not well aware of the role of anesthetist and especially their knowledge is very poor regarding anesthetist commitments within and outside the operation theatre. The present study was conducted to know the awareness and knowledge of the patients about anesthesia and anesthetist.

Methodology: The present study was a cross sectional study conducted using predesigned questionnaire containing questions related to the awareness and knowledge of anesthesia among the patients coming for a pre-anesthesia check-up after taking their voluntary informed consent.

Results: Only 22% of the cases know correctly that anesthetist is the person who will resuscitate the patients if any mishap occurs in operation theatre. It was observed that 63% of the cases feel that the role of the anesthetist in operation theatre is to put the patient to sleep. The knowledge about the types of anesthesia was present among 170 (56.7%) of the participants. 52% believe that the role of anesthetist is equivalent to that of the surgeon. Significant association was observed between educational status and perception about the anesthetist as a doctor (p<0.05), equivalent role of anesthetist and surgeon (p<0.05) and the knowledge about anesthetist as a person who gives anesthesia (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The available data suggest that specialty of anesthesia has not done all that it can to educate the patients in particular and the public at large about the role of anesthesiologist.