Knowledge About Anaesthesiology and Anaesthesiologists
Condition: Knowledge; Anaesthesiology
Study type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Summary: 
      Object: To determine the Knowledge about anaesthesiologist's role and responsibilities along
      with the field of anaesthesiology among patients.

      Study Design: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Place and Duration of Study: National Guard Health
      Affairs, from 1st December 2017 to 30th March 2018.

      Methodology: After informed consent patients were asked to answer the questionnaire
      comprising of 12 open-ended questions regarding their knowledge about anaesthesiologist and
      anaesthesiology. Scoring as per correct and incorrect questions was done using version 19
      (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).
    

Detailed description: 
      INTRODUCTION:

      Anaesthesiology is still an emerging specialty in comparison to medicine and the field of
      surgery. Unawareness, infrequent exposure, and limited direct patient interaction have
      resulted in into least knowledge regarding the field of anaesthesiology among patients get
      admission to the hospital. The role, status of the anaesthesiologist and the awareness about
      the specialty of anaesthesiology has always been an active issue in the general population of
      most of the countries. Ongoing advancement in the field of anaesthesiology has facilitated
      complex surgical procedures, but it has never been acknowledged anywhere in media. Several
      studies done on the same subject is a reflection of efforts of professional bodies around the
      world towards improvement in the spread of awareness about the field of anaesthesiology and
      role of anaesthesiologist but these are still largely inaccurate.

      A survey done even in developed countries outside the operating rooms depicted that the
      patients have limited awareness about the role of anaesthesiologists. A survey was done in
      India in 2018 showed that there was widespread ignorance about the anaesthesiology and role
      of anaesthesiologist in patients attending rural healthcare facilities. A 2009 survey in
      government busy setting of India showed that only 56% of patients knew that anaesthesiologist
      is a doctor. A survey done in the year 2004 revealed a high number of around 80% of patients
      visiting hospital recognized anaesthesiologist as a doctor but were unaware of their
      responsibilities in the hospital.

      In the era of the rise in media and the Internet, an enhancement can be seen in awareness
      about anaesthesiology. Awareness about anaesthesiology and anaesthesiologists is an important
      better relationship between patient and doctor.

      Methodology:

      A cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi
      Arabia from 1st December 2017 to 30th March 2018. The sample size was calculated using the
      WHO Sample Size Calculator. In a previous study, knowledge regarding anaesthesiologists and
      anaesthesiology was about 51.52% therefore 384 patients will be included in this study to
      estimate knowledge within 5 percent point (margin of error) of the true value (51.52%) with
      95% confidence interval. Using Non-probability purposive sampling patients falling in
      inclusion criteria were included after taking ethical committee approval and patient's
      consent. Patients of either gender aged 18 to 60 years were included regardless of the
      specialty of surgery. We excluded those patients who refused to give consent and those were
      unable to give consent because of being language bearer, mentally not bill to understand
      questionnaires and doctors who were admitted as patients. Knowledge about anaesthesiologists
      and the field of anaesthesiology was measured by asking the questionnaire comprising 12
      questions. Patients were interviewed by the preoperative anaesthetist and principal
      investigator on the ward. Each interview lasted for 10-20min and was based on a questionnaire
      in English and Arabic language. The questionnaire consisted of questions modified from
      previous studies and added questions. It had two parts; demographics i.e. age, gender,
      educational level, occupation, previous anaesthesia experience and type of surgery, the
      second part will consist of 12 questions about anaesthesiology and anaesthesiologist.
      Patients giving the correct responses to 8 out of 12 questions were considered to have
      knowledge. Data were analyzed using statistical packages for social science version 19 (SPSS
      Inc., Chicago, IL). Frequency and percentage were computed for gender, type of surgery,
      education level, previous surgery, Patient's knowledge about anaesthesiology and
      anaesthesiologist. Mean and the standard deviation was estimated for age. Stratification was
      done to control effect modifiers like gender, age, education level, previous surgery to
      observed the Patient's knowledge about anaesthesiology and anaesthesiologist through the
      chi-square test. p≤0.05 is considered as significant.
    

Intervention name(s): SURVEY
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): QUESTIONAIRRE
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Adult Patients
      
Keywords: Field of Anaesthesiology; Knowledge; Survey