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Patient knowledge of anaesthesia and peri‐operative care
Author(s) -
Hume M. A.,
Kennedy B.,
Asbury A. J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1994.tb04408.x
Subject(s) - medicine , general anaesthesia , anesthesia , preoperative fasting , regional anaesthesia , perioperative , intensive care medicine
Summary One hundred and sixty six patients were questioned by means of a multiple choice questionnaire, to determine their knowledge of peri‐operative care, anaesthesia and the role of anaesthetists. In general, knowledge was good, but there were some important misconceptions; in particular, 28.3% of respondents thought that fasting referred to food only, and not to fluid intake. In addition, 47.6% of respondents considered pain to be a necessary part of the healing process and 38.6% believed that it was something that just had to be endured. When forthcoming anaesthesia is discussed, anaesthetists need to ascertain that patients really do understand the language used.