The Role of the Anaesthesiologist, His Work and Responsibility during the Surgery: A PreoperativeSurvey on Patients’ Opinions, Attitudes and Notions

Overview

Objective:
The role of the anaesthesiologist as an independent specialist and patients‘ view of themwere examined in manystudies. Studies performed in English speaking countries show that only 54 to 89 per cent of patients undergoing surgeryrealize that their anaesthesiologist has a medical qualification; this number is higher than 90% in German speakingcountries. The goal of this study was to determine opinions and attitudes of patients in the Czech Republic.Design: An anonymous questionnaire-based survey.Setting: Dept. of Anaesthesiolgy and Intensive Care, University HospitalMethod: Patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia were asked a day prior to the operation to fill inthe prepared questionnaire before the preanaesthetic visit. In its first part questions concerning position of the anaesthesiologist,his practice and responsibility were given, in the second part attitudes towards getting information before theoperation, the importance of the anaesthesiologist during the surgery and towards postoperative pain and notions aboutthe course of anaesthesia were studied. In the last part some demographic data were collected.Results: 121 completed questionnaries out of 150 distributed were collected.92% of the patients identified the anaesthesiologistas a physician. 62% of the patients estimated the length of anaesthesiologists‘ training to be 6 years including theuniversity study,17% of the patients estimated 9 years.36% of interviewed patients thought that the anaesthesiologist worksonly in an operating room.The activities of the anaesthesiologist include regional anaesthesia (according to 77%of patients),resuscitation and emergency treatment (53%), care of ICU patients (49%), postoperative analgesia (41%), obstetric analgesia(28%), management of chronic pain (14%). 94% of patients knew that the anaesthesiologist is present during the wholesurgery, 40% that the anaesthesiologist is a physician of the whole perioperative period. 92% of interviewed patientsconsidered anaesthesiologist to be responsible for the induction of anaesthesia, 69% for the painlessness during thesurgery, 54% for the patient’s general condition,17% for the administration of drugs, fluids and blood preparations and 14%for the treatment of possible complications. 40% of patients thought that the anaesthesia team was subordinated to thesurgical one during the surgery.Conclusion: More than 90% of patients were aware that the anaesthesiologist is a physician. However, the knowledge of hispractice and responsibility is low.

Key words:
anaesthesiologist – role – survey