Patients’ attitude regarding preanesthetic information

Abstract

Introduction: The preoperative visit by the anesthesiologist is not only a way to obtain information about the patients’ medical condition, but also a good opportunity to educate the patients about the impending anesthesia in order to allay fear, doubts and misinformation. The addressed topic is the current one, given that there is no consensus on the content, the form, and the time of pre-anesthetic information and implicitly of obtaining informed consent. Purpose and Objectives: The study examined patients' opinion regarding pre-anesthetic information, namely by assessing the quality and the form of general information about anesthesia, the information on the risks and complications, revealing patients’ preferences, and determining the quality of obtaining informed consent. Materials and Methods: lOOpatients, ASA I-II, >18 years old and scheduled for elective surgery, participated in the study. In order to assess the patients’opinion, their preferences regarding general information about anesthesia and its risks and complications, two questionnaires were used. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS software, the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests, and crosstab methods were used. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The assessment of quality of informing about anesthesia showed that 55% of patients were not informed about alternative methods of anesthesia, 65% /85% -about drugs and instruments being used, 40% /43% -about when theycould eat, and mobilize from their beds. Information related the ability to ambulate (95%) and to resume the oral intake (97%) were sought after. Most responders were wanted the methods of anesthesia (77%). Information about pain and its relief were deemed important by the patients (90%).Only 43-57% of patients were interested in the duration of anesthesia and the drugs being used. Concerning the possible complications,78% prefer to know about frequent complications, and only 36%/34% about moderate and rare complications. Although 94% have signed informed consent, only 22% know its contents. Also it was found that patients with higher education had higher desire for information than those with primary education, (p <0.05). Conclusions: Most of the patients do not obtain general information about anesthesia. There is a trend of greater interest to information regarding interference of anesthesia with daily life than to technical details. They also showed less interest about risks and complications of anesthesia. There is a qualitative and quantitative disproportion in obtaining informed consent. Patients with higher education degree had a greater desire for information than those with primary education.