The influence of operation theatre environment on patients' perceptions during awake procedures: a cross-sectional...

To determine the perceptions of patients regarding operation theatre conversation and environment during an awake procedure.

The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2017 in postoperative wards of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and comprised women undergoing gynaecological or obstetric procedures under regional anaesthesia. Closedended questionnaires were distributed via nonprobability convenient sampling. Operation theatre data was collected from the anaesthesia notes, and data was analysed using SPSS 22.

There were 93 female subjects with a mean age of 28.23}5.42 years (range: 19-48 years). Overall, 90(96.8%) subjects regarded the conduct of operation theatre staff as cooperative and friendly with 64(68.8%) viewing the conversation among the staff as helpful in relieving anxiety. The thought of anaesthesia waning caused anxiety in 40(43%) subjects, but there was no difference in perceived anxiety between those counselled 61(65%) and not counselled by the anaesthetist. With regards to the environment, 41(44%) subjects said more measures were required to prevent patients from seeing the operating field. Besides, 30(32.2%) and 20(21%)subjects had reservations regarding the presence of male staff and medical students respectively. The opinion regarding medical professionals did not change for 60(64%) subjects after the procedure, and 37(39.8%) recommended that communication skills of medical professional needed improvement.

The environment in the theatre can have an influence on the patient's anxiety levels. Counselling by surgeons, casual conversations in the theatre can help alleviate apprehensions of the patients.