Evaluate Patient’s Awareness Regarding Significance of Pre-Anesthetic Checkup for Elective Surgery inWestern Libya

Background: Large proportion patients believe that pre-anesthetic checkup is unnecessary and a waste of time and money. Patients in some cases shows a lack of interest during the pre-anesthesia check or attempts to rush through, which may results to an incomplete case history, general physical examination and laboratory investigations. These compromise patient care and may affect health state.

Objectives: The aims of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge and perception of adult patients presenting for elective surgery in Sabratha and Surman public hospitals regarding the value and importance of pre-anesthesia checkup, and to investigate the effect of patients’ variables on patient’s Knowledge and perception for pre anesthesia checkup.

Methodology: This study was conducted in Sabratha and Surman public hospitals in western Libya, over a period of 4 month. Forty Patients were asked to fill a questionnaire consisting of 15 questions before start of pre anesthesia assessment. Each question was provided with multiple possible choices, out of which patient had to choose the most appropriate in his or her opinion. Scoring was done by awarded 1 mark for correct answer while incorrect answer was given 0 marks. Statistical Analysis for data were stated as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations.

Results: Our results revealed that around 62.5 % of patients had overall percentage for positive responses ≥ 50 %, while the rest had <50%. The total score of positive responses for all patients were 257 represented (58.4%) of overall percentage while the total score of negative responses for all patients were 183 represented (41.6 %) of overall percentage. Patients’ variables included ages, educational levels, and previous visit for anesthesia assessment had significant effect on patient’s knowledge and perception regarding pre anesthesia checkup. While gender had not significant effect on them.

Conclusion: Large ratio of patients had insufficient knowledge and inadequate perception about pre-anesthesia checkup and its role in improving the patient care and the outcome of surgery. Also, we assumption that whenever patient in urban area increase in age, education level and previous experience for pre-anesthesia assessment, that will increase patient’s knowledge and perception for the value and the importance of pre anesthesia check‑up.

Keywords: Patient’s awareness, Pre-anesthetic checkup, Urban area, Western Libya.