A survey related to patients’ satisfaction about anaesthetic care at a tertiary care center in Pakistan

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess patients’ satisfaction regarding anaesthetic care at our tertiary care center and to evaluate the common reasons for dissatisfaction. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey was conducted for a period of seven months from 1^st January 2023 to 31^st July 2023 at the surgical wards of our tertiary care hospital through a self-completed questionnaire filled by patients themselves. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS. Frequency and percentages were used to assess the responses and calculate the degree of satisfaction. Results: The duration of study was seven months included responses from 378 patients. The results were divided into satisfaction regarding preoperative (SA), intraoperative (SB), post operative (SC) care and overall satisfaction (SO). The mean age of patients was 40.6 years. The majority were females who required general surgical procedures, had preoperative workup at anaesthesia clinic and were labeled as ASA-II. Most of them had general anaesthesia. Patients’ satisfaction at SA, SB, and SC was 92.7%, 97%, 94.5% respectively. Two major factors contributed to dissatisfaction were process of taking informed consent (6.4%), and explanation of possible risks and complications (10.4%) associated with anaesthetic care. The commonly reported adverse events in the postoperative period were pain (60%), nausea and vomiting (39.4%), sore throat (24.6%), somnolence (23%), limitations in movement (23.5%) and shivering (15.1%). Amongst them, shivering was the greatest reason for dissatisfaction (14%). Overall, 3.6% of patients were dissatisfied with the anaesthesia care. Conclusion: Overall, patients’ satisfaction at mentioned intervals was high. The factors associated with dissatisfaction were insufficient counselling about consent, risks, complications and postoperative shivering related to anaesthesia.