title: Public awareness about the specialty of anesthesiology and the role of anesthesiologists: a national survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this national survey were to determine the views of Korean people regarding the specialty of anesthesiology and the role of anesthesiologists and to consider the ways in which individual anesthesiologists and the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists inform the public.
  
  
  METHODS
  This off-line national survey was conducted by a professional research organization to obtain exact and reliable data. The questionnaire included structured questions to identify perceptions of the specialty of anesthesiology and the role of anesthesiologists inside and outside the operating room, people's desire for explanation of anesthesia by anesthesiologists, and their opinion about the best way to raise awareness about anesthesia and anesthesiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the respondents, 25.2% did not know that anesthesiologists are in charge of anesthesia during surgery. Furthermore, even respondents who knew that had very little knowledge of anesthesiologists' actual roles inside and outside the operating room. Respondents wanted their anesthesiologist to inform them about their anesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The public's awareness regarding the role of anesthesiologists seems to be inadequate. To improve this awareness, in hospitals, each anesthesiologist should provide patients with more exact and detailed information. Simultaneously, the National Society of Anesthesiology should provide systematic information reflecting the public's thoughts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hallym University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hallym University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Nak Hun
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chong Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Hoon
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kook Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inje university College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Heum
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Song
keywords: Anesthesia; Physician's role; Public opinion