Patients' desire for information about anaesthesia: Australian attitudes.
Patients in a medium-sized Australian suburban general hospital were asked to complete a pre-operative questionnaire concerning their desire for information about their impending anaesthesia. The results are compared with those of Canadian and Scottish studies published recently. The Australian patients had a higher preference for information about complications, although some patients, mainly elderly, did not want to know about unpleasant aspects of peri-operative procedures or potential complications. As in the other countries, patients under the age of 50 years had a greater desire for information than those who were older (p < 0.05). All national groups accorded highest priority to meeting the anaesthetist before surgery. The results are discussed in relationship to the requirements for informed consent.
Farnill
D
D
University of Sydney, Australia.
Inglis
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012606:Scotland