Assessment of Thai Patients and People Knowledge of Anesthesiologists’ Role and Anesthesia
Sirilak Suksompong MD, MSc*, Parnthip Sudsrivong MD*, Nophanan Chaikittisilpa MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : We aimed to 1) evaluate patient and Thai people knowledge about the roles of anesthesiologists, 2) examine factors
associated with the lack of knowledge regarding the roles of anesthesiologists, and 3) evaluate patient concerns regarding
their personal anesthesia and surgical experiences.
Material and Method: Between January 2015 and June 2016, we conducted a public survey interview and also interviewed
admitted surgical patients during their post-operative period using the same questionnaire. The survey assessed knowledge
of the roles of an anesthesiologist, and fears related to anesthesia and surgery.
Results : A total of 263 surgical patients and 607 Thai people of the general public were interviewed. Only 151 (57.4%)
patients and 241 (39.7%) individuals were able to define the anesthesiologist’s roles. From multivariate logistic regression
analysis, factors associated with the lack of knowledge about the anesthesiologist’s roles were 1) respondents from the north
eastern region of Thailand (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.17, p<0.01), 2) lower education level than a master degree; primary
school (OR 27.92, 95% CI 10.65 to 73.16, p<0.01), high school (OR 10.25, 95% CI 4.02 to 26.18, p<0.01), vocational
education (OR 7.61, 95% CI 2.55 to 22.75, p<0.01) and bachelor degree (OR 7.61, 95% CI 2.55 to 22.75, p<0.01), 3) having
a career not related to healthcare (OR 16.03, 95% CI 6.18 to 41.57, p<0.01), 4) prior anesthesia experience (OR 2.20, 95%
CI 1.55 to 3.12, p<0.01), and 5) Thai people (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.94 to 4.24, p<0.01). There was no association between the
lack of knowledge about the roles of anesthesiologists and total patient’s concern score.
Conclusion : Many Thai people, including surgical patients with past anesthesia experience, still have limited knowledge
regarding the roles of anesthesiologists.
Keywords : Anesthesiologist’s role, Patients, Thai people, Factors, Concerns and fears of anesthesia
