Influence of Anesthetic Brochure on Patient's Information Gain, Preoperative Anxiety, Trust, and Satisfaction

Objective To assess the impacts of anesthetic brochure on anesthetic information gain, preoperative anxiety, trust to anesthesiologists, and satisfaction to the preanesthesia visit for patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods Totally 134 patients scheduled for elective thyroid surgery under general anesthesia in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were assigned to two groups using the random number table method, among whom 68 patients received brochure before preoperative visit (brochure group) and 66 patients did not (control group). Questionnaires with items for evaluating patient's information gain, preoperative anxiety and trust were completed after preanesthetic visit. Patient's satisfaction with preanesthetic visit was evaluated on the second postoperative day. Results Compared with the control group, patients in the brochure group had significantly higher information gain scores (7.2±1.8 vs. 5.2±2.1, P<0.001) and satisfaction scores (25.0±3.4 vs. 22.7±3.1, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in anxiety scores and trust scores between these two groups. Conclusion Preoperative anesthetic brochure-assisted education can improve information gain and satisfaction among patients undergoing general anesthesia; however, it can not remarkably alter patient's preoperative anxiety and trust.