Knowledge and attitudes of patients about the role of anesthesiologists in a military hospital

Objectives: We designed a study to assess the Turkish patients’ understanding and knowledge on the anesthesiologist’s role and to evaluate the influence of the patient’s prior education, preoperative anxiety and experience with anesthesia on such understanding. Materials and Methods: Two hundred adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for surgery, from September to December 2008 at Etimesgut Military Hospital were enrolled in the study. A self-administered structured questionnaire distributed to patients waiting for preoperative evaluation. Results: Only 40% of respondents knew that the anesthesiologist was a doctor. There was a relationship between the level of education and the knowledge of the patient regarding whether the functions and responsibilities of an anesthesiologist in the hospital. Conclusions: The responses have shown poor knowledge of the public regarding the role of anesthesiologists. It indicates a need for exposure of the specialty to patients that can increase patient’s knowledge that may help to decrease preoperative anxiety.