title: The preanesthetic interview by anesthesiology residents: analysis of time and content.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A preanesthetic visit can increase a patient's satisfaction. However, it is uncertain whether a preanesthetic visit by an anesthesiology resident can achieve the goal. We studied the time distribution for content of preanesthetic interviews (PI) and evaluated the patient's satisfaction with the PI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded the PI duration of 200 patients by a voice recorder. The degrees of patient satisfaction with the PI and the changes of anxiety level after the PI were quantified by a questionnaire. We analyzed the time distribution for content of the PI and the correlation between patient characteristics and PI duration or a patient's satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total PI duration was 184 (134-286) sec (median, 25-75%), and the time distributions for content of the PI were 8 (5-10) of greeting, 45 (23-70) of history taking, 15 (10-20) of physical examination, 50 (25-98) for obtainingan informed consent, 20 (10-30) of explanation for anesthetic planning, 15 (5-28) for explanation of patient controlled analgesia, and 10 (0-4) sec for questions and answers. Age, ASA physical status, and educational level were correlated with PI duration (P < 0.001). The patient's level of satisfaction was "very satisfied" in 39%, "satisfied" in 50%, and "moderate" in 11% of interviews. The anxiety level was "decreased" in 50%, "increased" in 8%, and "not changed" in 42% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the duration of a PI given by residents was a relatively short, 89% of patients of were satisfied with the interview. The PI took a longer time to complete in patients of older age, higher ASA physical status, or lower educational levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Deokkyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Nyu
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Chan
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeongwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seonghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Sang-Kyi
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji-Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Son