[Survey on the need for information during the preanesthesia visit]

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
• Patient Education and Communication
• Health Services Research

Context:

• The preanesthesia informed consent process is often viewed as a legal formality.
• Effective patient autonomy requires clear and useful delivery of relevant medical information.
• Understanding patient information needs is essential for optimizing the preanesthesia visit.

Purpose:

• To determine patient information needs concerning anesthesia during the preanesthesia visit.
• To evaluate if information extent is dependent on demographic parameters and patient characteristics.
• To identify factors influencing patient preferences for the type and amount of information received.

Summary:

• A study of 699 elective surgery patients found that while many were satisfied with preanesthesia information, a significant portion desired more or less detail.
• Education level, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were independently associated with information needs.
• Patients appreciated consultations more than written materials for understanding anesthesia-related information, including risks and perioperative processes.

Impact:

• Findings suggest that demographic criteria can help personalize preanesthetic information, though their explanatory power is limited.
• The correlation between self-assessed HRQoL and information demand highlights the need for adaptable information delivery.
• This study provides insights into optimizing patient-centered communication in preanesthesia care within a German surgical cohort.