Descriptive study on pre-anae sthetic information desired by patients who undergo surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Delivery of pre-anaesthetic information is ethical, professional and a legal requirement in patient care. It is important for anaesthetists to know about pre-anaesthetic information the patient desire. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 preoperative patients covering all surgical units (n=9) at Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire to describe the pre-anaesthetic information desired by the patient, differences between desire for information according to the types of surgery and anaesthetic methods, and to determine associations between desire for information according to age, gender, educational status and economical status. Results: 149 patients and 51 guardians ranging from 14-79 years in age (Mean 43.95 years) participated in this study. There were 58.5% males and 42.5% females. Majority of them had studied up to advanced level, and nearly 75% had a monthly income which is less than Rs.20,000. More than half of the consent providers wanted to meet the anaesthetist before the surgery and more than two thirds of them said that they have an absolute desire for more information regarding the forthcoming anaesthesia. Only one third of them desired anaesthetic drug information. Desire for pre-anaesthetic information was statistically associated with age (p=0.000) and gender, but it showed no association with economical status, type of surgery or type of anaesthesia. Conclusion & recommendation: Majority of the study sample wished to get anaesthetic information (72.5%) and to meet the anaesthetist preoperatively (54.5%). Delivering pre-anaesthetic information irrespective of type of surgery and type of anaesthesia including the information desired by the patients will improve the patient satisfaction.