title: The patients' understanding on the status and role of anaesthesiologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patients' understanding on the status and role of anaesthesiologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The interview had three segments which questioned on (i) patients' knowledge of the qualification, training and role of anaesthesiologists, (ii) attitude of patients towards anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists and (iii) the demographic data of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 384 patients interviewed, 59.4% had prior anaesthesia experience. Most patients (95.6%) knew that anaesthesiologists were medical doctors, but only 27.1% knew the duration of training required to attain this specialist qualification. Patients' awareness of the various anaesthetic responsibilities was 12.2% in managing labour pain, 25.5% in intensive care units, 49.2% in chronic pain and 99.5% in postoperative pain management. During surgery, 73.7% of patients knew that anaesthesiologists were monitoring their vital signs, but only 42.2% thought anaesthesiologists also treated medical problems intraoperatively. Most patients (95.1%) would like to meet their anaesthesiologists prior to the operation and 97.7% want them to inform all possible anaesthesia complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our patients' understanding and awareness of the status and roles of anaesthesiologists are still limited and variable. This can be further improved with patient interaction and public education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izaham
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdul Manap
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zainudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamaruzaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia; D000072080:Anesthesiologists / Q000193:education; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anaesthesiologist; Attitudes; Patient’s knowledge; Patient’s perception; Survey