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Operating Room Professionals' Awareness of Possible Unconscious Auditory Perception During General Anesthesia: A
1Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Anesthesiology Research and Practice
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Operating room professionals recognize the importance of communication during general anesthesia, yet lack formal education on unconscious auditory perception. This highlights an awareness-education gap needing attention to improve patient care.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Neuroscience
- Healthcare Communication
Background:
- Evidence suggests auditory stimuli may be processed unconsciously during general anesthesia.
- Intraoperative conversations form part of the auditory environment for anesthetized patients.
- Understanding professionals' awareness of this phenomenon is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess operating room professionals' awareness of unconscious auditory perception during general anesthesia.
- To evaluate their prior educational exposure to this topic.
- To understand their professional attitudes regarding intraoperative communication.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey using a 19-item online questionnaire was conducted.
- Operating room health professionals in Türkiye participated.
- Descriptive statistics and specific index scores were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Most participants (97.2%) believe intraoperative communication should maintain professional boundaries.
- A significant majority (88.0%) feel education on this topic is needed.
- However, 74.5% reported no formal education, and only 19.5% had related scientific exposure.
Conclusions:
- Professionals are aware of the importance of intraoperative conversations for unconscious auditory perception.
- A notable gap exists between awareness and formal educational exposure.
- Recommendations include awareness-oriented education and clearer communication norms.
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