Universität zu Köln

Baja, J., Welker, A. S., Beck, G., Schleppers, A., Fischer, M. and Weiss, C. (2014). Professional image of anesthetists in the general public. Influence of provision of information and previous experience with the discipline. Anaesthesist, 63 (2). S. 114 - 122. NEW YORK: SPRINGER. ISSN 1432-055X

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Abstract

The profession of the anesthetist in Germany includes the disciplines anesthesia, intensive care, emergency and pain medicine. Despite the versatility and competence of the profession, patients do not appear to have recognized anesthesiology as a medical discipline or anesthetists as medical doctors. This study was conducted with the aim of estimating how previous experience and information gathered before contact with the anesthetist for premedication have influenced and changed the perception of patients with regards to the professional fields and the characteristics of anesthetists. A total of 3,950 patients from 3 German hospitals were asked to answer a questionnaire handed out by the assistance nurse in the premedication area prior to the medical consultation with the duty anesthetist. The questions involved the patient perception of the discipline, the characteristics of anesthetists and also evaluated the patient previous experience and provision of information. According to the answers 1,753 patients were considered eligible for the study and were categorized into subgroups I-IV (group I interested and experienced with operations, group II interested but inexperienced, group III uninterested but experienced and group IV neither interested nor experienced) for statistical analysis. Of the respondents 56.2 % had obtained previous information from a general practitioner followed by acquaintances (21.4 %) and the internet (19.9 %), which significantly differed with age. Interested and experienced patients showed the best perception of the profession. Often, the knowledge of interested and uninterested persons did not significantly differ. Interested patients and those with experience of anesthesiology had the best knowledge of anesthesiology. Performing anesthesia was most often identified by all groups (50.9-95.3 %) as a function of anesthetists while the other professional fields were recognized correctly by only 5.8-26.6 %. Depending on the group 41.0-84.4 % regarded anesthetists as medical doctors. Only 15.0-78.3 % of other attributes were associated with anesthetists. Unfortunately, the perception of patients on the versatility and characteristics of anesthetists are poorly developed. However, the knowledge differs significantly depending on previous experience and gathered information. Interestingly patients with previous experience mostly showed better knowledge compared to interested patients. Results suggest that personal interaction, patient-physician communication in general and improved collaboration between general practitioners and anesthetists are the key elements for better patient knowledge, which could lead to increased patient satisfaction.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Baja, J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Welker, A. S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Beck, G. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schleppers, A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fischer, M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Weiss, C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-446811
DOI:	10.1007/s00101-013-2276-5
Journal or Publication Title:	Anaesthesist
Volume:	63
Number:	2
Page Range:	S. 114 - 122
Date:	2014
Publisher:	SPRINGER
Place of Publication:	NEW YORK
ISSN:	1432-055X
Language:	German
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language PERIOPERATIVE CARE; PATIENTS KNOWLEDGE; ANESTHESIA; PERCEPTION; ATTITUDE Multiple languages Anesthesiology Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/44681