Issn Print: 0265-0215

Publication Date: 2010/06/12


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Should the anaesthetist be a physician? An audit of patients' perceptions: 15AP2–1

A. Norman; R. Alexander; S. Chadwick; D. Jones

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Background and Goal of Study: The UK public have a poor knowledge of the role of the anaesthesiologist and their medical qualifications. This has remained unchanged since 1978 despite national information campaigns1. With the introduction of Physician's Assistants in Anaesthesia (PA) into UK practice, we believed that it would not matter to a patient if their anaesthetic was provided by a physician or a non-medical anaesthetist.
Materials and Methods: Following institutional approval, a quality assessment questionnaire was voluntarily offered to adults attending ear, nose and throat (ENT) and gynaecology clinics. Patients were asked if they had received any information or had had a previous anaesthetic. Further questions asked who they believed would and should administer the anaesthetic, if a physician should be present at all times in the operating theatre, if patients would feel safe with a non-medical anaesthetist, whether the presence of a physician would change their mind and if they would delay their procedure so a physician could administer the anaesthetic.
Results and Discussion: 288 patients were surveyed (188 from ENT and 100 from gynaecology clinics). 38.8% had received information on anaesthesia, and 83.3% had themselves, or a family member, undergone a previous anaesthetic. 62.4% believed a physician would administer the anaesthetic and 62.8% believed this should be the situation. 2.2% felt it didn't matter. 65.6% would feel safe if a non medical anaesthetist looked after them, but 74.2% believed a physician should be present. If a non-medical anaesthetist was due to deliver the anaesthetic, 32.3% would delay the procedure until a physician was available to anaesthetise them at a later date.
Conclusion(s): Although the public perception of the role of the anaesthesiologist has been shown to be unclear, in this sample the majority believe anaesthesiologists are doctors and that anaesthetics should be given by physicians. Nearly three quarters of patients believe a physician should be present during a procedure, although, just over two thirds of patients would not delay their procedure if only a non-medical anaesthetist was present. The introduction of the Physician Assistants into UK practice does not remove the perceived need for medically qualified anaesthesiologists.
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to all those who completed questionnaires and to Deborah Jones for administering them.
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