title: A Survey on Awareness about the Role of Anesthesia and Anesthesiologists among the Patients Undergoing Surgeries in a Tertiary Care Teaching Women and Children Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although anesthesiology has grown tremendously and although anesthesiologists play a crucial role in the perioperative management of patients and also outside operating theater (OT) such as critical care, pain clinic, and labor analgesia, they do not get due recognition. We conducted a study to assess the awareness about the role of anesthesia and anesthesiologists among patients scheduled to undergo surgery in a Government Tertiary Care Teaching Women and Children Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional survey with a sample size of 100 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery in the age group of 18-65 years with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Grades 1 and 2, who are willing to participate and given written informed consent. Patients whose age <18 years and more than 65 years, ASA health status Class 3 and above were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical analysis was done by calculating percentages using Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty percent of the participants were illiterate and of the educated, none were graduates or postgraduates. Patients with higher level of education had better knowledge of anesthesiology and role of an anesthesiologist withP< 0.05 than those with lesser education. Forty-eight percent of the participants had no idea about anesthesia despite the majority (62%) having previous surgery with no statistically significant difference (P> 0.05) between those with previous surgery and those without previous surgery regarding their knowledge of anesthesiology and anesthesiologist. Ninety percent did not know the complications, types of anesthesia and 44% did not know that anesthesiologist is a doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the participants were not aware of the role of anesthesia and anesthesiologists inside and outside OT. Although this could be attributed to their lower level of education, the fraternity of anesthesiologists has to educate patients and surgeons about the role of anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marulasiddappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Nethra
keywords: Anesthesia; anesthesiologist; awareness