English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The more advancing and life saving specialty and specialist i.e., anesthesia and anesthesiologists, both have been kept behind the screen, more so in developing countries. Though the role of anesthesiologist is crucial, the public knowledge of anesthetic practice is limited. The present day anesthesiologist is based on the use of newer and safer drugs, better patient monitoring, pain management, labour analgesia and critical care. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the knowledge about the role of anesthesia and anesthesiologist among the paramedical staff at S.N medical college, Bagalkot. METHODOLOGY: This prospective questionnaire based study was done at S.N medical college and hospital among paramedical staffs working in different departments after taking the consent and approval of the ethical committee. Data was collected by pretested and predesigned questionnaire from 105 study participants. A majority of 90.28% of respondents felt that anesthesia was necessary for surgery. 40.80% knew that it was given by anesthesiologists. 18.38% of respondents knew that besides anaesthetizing, anesthesiologists monitor the vital signs till the completion of surgery. 5.60%, 9.11% & 3.8% of respondents were aware of their role in ICU, labor analgesia and pain clinic respectively. Only 22.81% patients had knowledge about anesthesia risks given in consent form. The statistical association between past exposure to anesthesia and knowledge about anesthesia was not significant (p <0.1). CONCLUSION: Anesthesiologist work mainly in the operation theatre and to some extent monitor the patient in the post operative ward for pain management and nausea vomiting, headache, etc. The role inside the theater & expanding role outside the theater poorly known. The awareness about the role of anesthesiologist in operation theater intensive care unit labor analgesia acute and chronic pain management and emergency care areas and disaster management areas should be highlighted to all the paramedical staff.