Original Research

Patients’ knowledge and perception of anaesthesia and the anaesthetist at a tertiary health care facility in Ghana

Robert Djagbletey, George Aryee, Raymond Essuman, Vincent Ganu, Ebenezer O. Darkwa, Christian Owoo, Francis Ahiaku, Alfred Yawson
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia | Vol 23, No 1 | a1008 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/22201181.2017.1281518 | © 2017 Robert Djagbletey, George Aryee, Raymond Essuman, Vincent Ganu, Ebenezer O. Darkwa, Christian Owoo, Francis Ahiaku, Alfred Yawson | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 14 November 2025 | Published: 27 February 2017

About the author(s)

Robert Djagbletey, Department of Anaesthesia, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
George Aryee, Department of Anaesthesia, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Raymond Essuman, Department of Anaesthesia, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Vincent Ganu, Department of Internal Medicine, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Ebenezer O. Darkwa, Department of Anaesthesia, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Christian Owoo, Department of Anaesthesia, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Francis Ahiaku, Department of Anaesthesia, Trust Hospital, Accra, Ghana
Alfred Yawson, Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Ghana

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Abstract

Background: Anaesthesia has always been misconstrued as a ‘behind the scenes’ specialty. Despite advancements in anaesthesia, there is inadequate public knowledge regarding the specialty, the scope of the functions of anaesthetists, and the pivotal role anaesthetists play in the healthcare delivery system. This study therefore assessed the knowledge and perception of anaesthesia and the role of anaesthetists among patients in a tertiary healthcare facility.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 3 months in 2015 among 279 patients accessing services at the preanaesthetic clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, their knowledge and perceptions about anaesthesia, and the role of anaesthetists.
Results: The majority of patients (62.4%) had heard about anaesthesia. Most (85%) knew that specially trained doctors or nurses were responsible for the delivery of anaesthesia. Nearly half the patients indicated anaesthesia was all about ‘putting people to sleep and waking them up’. Less than 15% of patients had knowledge of the role of anaesthetists outside the confines of the operating theatre suites.
Conclusion: A considerable number of patients had heard about anaesthesia and knew the people responsible for the delivery of anaesthesia. The perception of most patients is that anaesthesia is all about ‘putting patients to sleep and waking them up’. There was poor knowledge of patients regarding the role of anaesthetists beyond the confines of the operating theatre.

Keywords

anaesthesia; anaesthetist; knowledge; misconceptions; patients; perceptions

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