Patient satisfaction after anesthesia is an important outcome of hospital service, and constitutes a core aspect of the continuous quality improvement in anesthesia service

Elad Dana

Abstract

Patient satisfaction after anesthesia is an important outcome of hospital service, and constitutes a core aspect of the continuous quality improvement in anesthesia service

To evaluate the effect of interpersonal patient-anesthesiologist relationship on patient satisfaction with the anesthesia process based on continuity of care from preoperative evaluation to intraoperative management by the same anesthesiologist versus two different anesthesiologists.

METHODS: In this cohort study, 100 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia and pre-operative evaluation at least one day before surgery were randomly chosen and divided into 2 groups: Group A ("single") included 50 patients who underwent the pre-operative assessment and intra-operative management by the same anesthesiologist, and group B ("separate") included 50 patients who were assessed preoperatively and anesthetized by two separate anesthesiologists. All patients filled a questionnaire on their post-operative day, evaluating their level of confidence preoperatively and overall satisfaction with anesthetic care. A comparison was made between the 2 groups. The effects of demographic characteristics, post-operative nausea or vomiting, and post-operative pain were also evaluated as possible contributors to alterations in patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION: In order to promote a higher pre-operative level of confidence in patients undergoing an elective surgery under general anesthesia, the preoperative evaluation and anesthesia should be performed by the same anesthesiologist. However, we did not identify a direct effect on overall level of satisfaction.

Author(s):

Elad Dana

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