STUDY OF AWARENESS ABOUT ANAESTHESIA AND ANAESTHESIOLOGIST AMONGST GENERAL PUBLIC

Abstract

Background: Anaesthesiology is an upcoming multimodality specialty in medical science with its spectrum ranging from perioperative patient care to pain management, critical care and palliative care. Anaesthesiologists are playing a decisive role in patient management.  Anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist from the very beginning has obtained “Behind the Screen” role. The general public still do not adequately recognize their role as anaesthetist, perioperative physician, intensivist and pain physician. Aim: 1. To assess the knowledge about anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists among general public To evaluate the knowledge and importance of anaesthesia during surgery. To know the problems and find solutions regarding unawareness about anaesthesia and anesthesiologists. Material and Methods: A survey was conducted amongst 1000 participants coming to tertiary care hospital by providing a questionnaire with 12 questions. It was also distributed in vernacular language for those who did not understand English language. Results: 63.4% were aware and 36.6% participants were not aware about what anaesthesia is and what anaesthetists do. 70.0% and 58.7% of participants were aware about anaesthesia & anaesthesiologist belonging to group I ( 30 yrs) respectively. 66.5% males and 61.1% of females were aware whereas 40% of illiterate were not aware and 66.4% literate were aware about the role of anaesthesia & anaesthesiologist. Conclusion: This study portrays the ignorance among the general population regarding the important role played by anaesthesiologists. This may be because we anaesthesiologists do not spend enough time with patients in the peri-operative period and educate them about our role and our speciality and the less use of electronic media by us. Keyword: anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist