DOI: N/A
Ali E , Datta M, Meem AC, Azam I4, Miah MA, Selina F
Introduction: Anesthesiology has evolved from a specialty limited to the operating room to a comprehensive discipline involved in perioperative care, intensive care, labor analgesia, and pain management. Despite their critical role in ensuring patient safety through vigilant monitoring and management of physiological functions during surgery, anesthesiologists often receive limited recognition from patients and the public. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of patients regarding anesthesia and anesthesiologists in a tertiary care hospital setting.
Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Anesthesia at Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, from October to December 2025. A total of 300 postoperative patients undergoing routine surgery with ASA physical status I and II were included. Patients with ASA grade III or higher and those unwilling to participate were excluded. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Review Board of Sylhet Women’s Medical College. Data were collected using a pre-validated questionnaire with interpreter assistance when required. Responses were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using descriptive statistics to calculate percentages.
Results: Nearly half of the participants (45.67%) believed anesthesia mainly involved making a body area numb, while 12% had no idea about anesthesia. Previous exposure to anesthesia was reported by 41% of respondents. Surgeons were the most common source of information (36.67%). The most frequent fear related to anesthesia was experiencing pain during surgery (35%), followed by fear of not waking up (21%). Although 75.67% identified anesthesiologists as doctors, only 15.33% recognized their role in both administering anesthesia and monitoring patients. More than half (53.33%) were unaware of the importance of pre-anesthetic consultation, and 90.33% did not know about the anesthesiologist’s role in postoperative recovery.
Conclusion: Patient awareness regarding anesthesia and the role of anesthesiologists remains limited. Improved patient education and preoperative communication are essential to enhance understanding, reduce anxiety, and promote recognition of anesthesiologists’ critical role in perioperative care.