Appropriate practice of anesthesia: A plea for better training

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Practice
• Patient Communication

Background:

• The role of anesthesiologists is frequently misunderstood by patients.
• Uncertainty regarding anesthesiologist functions raises significant concerns in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current anesthetic practices and identify areas for improvement.
• To assess communication levels between anesthesiologists, patients, and surgeons.

Main Methods:

• A 5-month questionnaire survey was conducted to appraise anesthetic practices.
• The survey utilized a clinical practice style for data collection.

Main Results:

• A third of surveyed anesthesiologists undervalued their work by not communicating with patients.
• Nearly half (45.2%) of respondents did not discuss intraoperative findings with surgeons.
• While most visited patients preoperatively, only 21.6% discussed anesthetic procedures, and less than 20% conducted consistent postoperative visits.

Conclusions:

• Current anesthesia practices exhibit notable deficiencies in communication and patient engagement.
• Enhanced dialogue between anesthesiologists, surgeons, and patients can significantly improve anesthesia care quality.
• Revisions to anesthesia training curricula are recommended to address identified shortcomings.