Perspectives of Older Patients on Speaking With an Anesthesia Provider Before the Day of Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Evaluations performed before the day of surgery at perioperative clinics have been shown to reduce patient mortality and hospital lengths of stay. These clinics are becoming increasingly adopted worldwide. As the number of older patients undergoing surgery continues to increase, understanding the perspectives of this patient population regarding the preoperative evaluation process is essential to tailor care to their needs and preferences. METHODS: We administered a cross-sectional survey by email or telephone to 104 patient participants ages 75 and older who underwent preoperative assessment and surgery at a rural tertiary center in Northern New England in 2022. The survey aimed to elicit patient perspectives on whether or not they prefer to speak with an anesthesia provider before the day of surgery, and on the reasons for their preference. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of older patients indicated they prefer to engage in conversations with their anesthesia providers before the day of surgery. The most common topics patients wanted to discuss were to address what possible side effects from anesthesia could occur, the type of anesthesia they would receive, and if other anesthesia options were available. Patients also emphasized the importance of their anesthesia provider's awareness of their specific medical conditions, such as kidney, lung, or cervical spine conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Preanesthesia assessments allow for bidirectional communication between patients and anesthesia providers, alleviating patient anxiety and allowing for vital patient information to be collected to enhance overall patient safety. Our findings indicate that preoperative assessment by an anesthesia provider is desired and valued by the older patient population, contributing to the evidence in support of the implementation of anesthesia preoperative clinics. More research is needed to determine whether tailoring preanesthesia assessments to better align with patient preferences will translate into enhanced patient-centered outcomes.