Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction and Pre-Anesthesia Consultation Practices in a University Hospital: A...

The Pre-Anesthesia Consultation Clinic (PACC) plays a vital role in perioperative care, assessing the' health status of patients, optimizing comorbidities, and providing personalized information on anesthesia. In Tunisia, preoperative anesthesia consultation has been mandatory for all elective surgeries since 2015. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction and the impact of consultation on preoperative anxiety.

We conducted a single-center cross-sectional observational study over one month (January 2025) in the PACC of a Tunisian university hospital. Adults classified as ASA I to III scheduled for elective surgery were included. Data were collected through structured interviews using a questionnaire that covered demographics, medical history, consultation process, complementary testing, clinic environment, and satisfaction, including anxiety evaluation.

Out of 125 patients, 83.2% reported being satisfied with the consultation. Satisfaction was significantly associated with factors such as education level, type of surgery, clinic accessibility, waiting room crowding, staffing adequacy, respect for patient privacy, time spent with the physician, and the opportunity to ask and receive adequate answers to questions. Furthermore, 77.6% of patients reported reduced anxiety following the consultation. Younger age, regional anesthesia planning, inadequate privacy, and poor communication were significantly associated with persistent anxiety.

The pre-anesthesia consultation effectively contributes to patient satisfaction and reduction in anxiety. However, targeted improvements in patient education, environment, and communication are essential to enhance quality of care and patient-centered outcomes.