STUDY OF CONSCIOUSNESS REGARDING ANESTHESIA AND ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN RURAL AREA HOSPITAL

Dr.Geeta B.Patel; Dr. Dipak Magal

Volume : VIII, Issue : II, February - 2019

STUDY OF CONSCIOUSNESS REGARDING ANESTHESIA AND ANESTHESIOLOGIST IN RURAL AREA HOSPITAL

Dr. Geeta B. Patel, Dr. Dipak Magal

Abstract :

Background: About more than 3/4th of Indian population resides in rural areas. Even in urban area, consciousness regarding anesthesia and anesthesiologist is limited. Very limited data available from rural India on this prospective. Our analysis highlights this lack of public consciousness and discusses possible remedies to overcome these limitations. About the Place: Study was carried out at district level hospital of backward, rural & tribal area of Gujarat . It is general hospital of Banaskantha district of Gujarat, Palanpur is a headquarter of banakantha district. Total area is about 12,703 km2, Population of district is 140,344 as per 2011‘s data. Male constitute 53% of the population & Females 47%. Literacy rate is 66.39%. District has 14 Taluka Places. In 2006, the ministry of panchayati raj named Banaskantha one of the country‘s 250 most backward districts. It is one of the 6 districts in Gujarat currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund programme (BRGF). Abstract: Anesthesia has become one of the most advanced specialisties in modern medical practice. Anesthesiologist are playing very decisive role in management of patients. Apart from operation theatre, anesthesiologist have role in critical care, pain clinics, trauma centers, labour analgesia also. Though the roles of anesthesiologist is crucial, public knowledge towards anesthetic practice is limited. Considering these, the present study is conducted to assess the people‘s knowledge about the role of anesthesiologist in medical practice. So it is important for us to think that why the importance of this specialty is not known & also how to make people aware about it. The present study was conducted among 500 patients at general hospital, Palanpur during period of last 6 month (from May–2018 to Oct–2018). All the patients were asked few questions about anesthesia. Questions were in their local language, mostly Gujarati & Hindi. Questionnaire was filled out for all the patients. The patients on the basis of their answers were classified as a "Aware or unaware" also source of information was analyzed. Most of the patients in our study were not aware of role of anesthesiologist, their role in operating room and postoperative period, and about anesthesiology as a separate specialty. Contribution of anesthesiologist in patient‘s knowledge was least. Only 38.4% of patients could be classified as (know that who is anesthetist) aware and source of their information was surgeon also. 60% patients were not aware of preoperative consent. Only 46.4% were aware of anesthesia – related issues. Pain was reported as the most common preoperative fear. Large amount of patients were satisfied with the quality of anesthesia services 80.4%. 87.6% patients shows their willingness to meet their anesthesiologist in case of any future surgery. We concluded that there is wide range of misunderstanding in the patients about the role of anesthesiologist inside & outside operating room. Rural awareness about anesthesia is extremely low likely because of low literacy level. Therefore, adequate proper time must be given to educate the patients about anesthesia & also various role of anesthesiologist outside OT. Both patients & anesthesiologist must understand the importance of consent, as it is not only for legal binding but it can remove preoperative fear of patients and can improve satisfaction towards surgery.