What Do Patients Know About Anesthesia and Anesthesiologists?
Dagmara Skowrońska1,2, Aleksandra Garczyk3, Anna Kluzik1,4
1Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Teaching, Święcickiego 6, 60-781 Poznan, Poland.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 11, 2025
Summary
Patient knowledge about anesthesia is generally poor globally, with significant variation in understanding anesthesiologists
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Patient Education
- Healthcare Quality
Background:
- Patient education and communication are increasingly vital for individuals undergoing anesthesia.
- The quality and safety of anesthesia services may be linked to the information patients receive.
- Global patient knowledge regarding anesthesia requires comprehensive exploration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze existing global data on patient knowledge about anesthesia.
- To identify factors that may influence patients' understanding of anesthesia.
- To explore potential strategies for improving patient education and reducing anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review utilizing PubMed.
- Inclusion of MeSH terms and relevant keywords for comprehensive search.
- Citation searching to identify additional pertinent studies.
Main Results:
- Significant heterogeneity exists across studies regarding patient knowledge levels.
- Recognition of anesthesiologists as physicians varies widely (32.8%–90.5%).
- Most studies indicate poor overall patient knowledge about anesthesia; common concerns include not waking up.
Conclusions:
- Patient knowledge about anesthesia shows no consistent correlation with demographic factors like age or sex.
- Educational aids, including online resources, may improve patient understanding and alleviate anxiety.
- Further research is needed to determine the impact of patient education on anesthesia outcomes and clinical guidance.
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