Preoperative Evaluation of Internet Usage Characteristics of Patients in an Anesthesiology Clinic: A Survey of 1000 Patients

• Published in: Southern Clinics of Istanbul Eurasia Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 266 - 271
• Main Author: Eler Çevik, Banu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: KARE Publishing 2018
• Subjects: anesthesia; internet; patient; preoperative
• ISSN: 2587-0998; 2587-0998
• DOI: 10.14744/scie.2018.13007

INTRODUCTION[|]This study was conducted to provide data about current preferences about internet use to obtain information about anesthesiology in patients undergoing elective surgical operations at a tertiary hospital.[¤]METHODS[|]After receiving institutional ethics committee approval, 1000 consecutive patients presenting at the Anesthesiology Clinic were interviewed using a questionnaire as a part of their preoperative clinic visit before an elective surgical procedure. Informed consent was obtained from all of the participants. Statistical analysis of all of the completed questionnaires was performed using NCSS statistical software (NCSS, LLC, Kaysville, UT, USA). A chi-square test was used to evaluate categorical variables and a t-test was applied to assess continuous variables. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05.[¤]RESULTS[|]Of 1000 patients, 659 (65.9%) reported routine use of the internet; 559 (55.9%) of these users were able to get the necessary healthcare information from the internet. In all, 636 patients (63.6%) searched for 'anesthesia,' 387 (38.7%) searched for 'general anesthesia,' 245 (24.5%) searched for 'spinal anesthesia,' 130 (13%) for 'epidural anesthesia,' 589 (58.9%) for 'anesthesia-related complications,' 498 (49.8%) for 'anesthesia-related deaths' and 331 (33.1%) for 'other medical subjects.' The remaining 364 patients (36.4%) responded that they did not search for any subject related to anesthesia on the internet.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Actual, evidence-based knowledge should be made available on the internet sites of health institutions to provide correct, understandable, and reliable information for the patients and their relatives. Preoperative information about the anesthesiology procedures and possible complications helps them to cope with anxiety due to uncertainty and lack of information.[¤]