Anesthesiologist's knowledge and attitudes about obstructive sleep apnea: a survey study

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 41 - 46
• Main Authors: Wang, Chun Ling, Li, Xue Zhong, Cai, Xiao Lan, Pan, Xin Liang, Min, Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.03.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesiology; Anesthesiology - education; Attitudes; Biological and medical sciences; China; Curriculum; Dentistry; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Education, Medical, Continuing; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Internal Medicine; Knowledge; Male; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Pediatrics; Physicians; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Preoperative Care; Questionnaires; Sleep apnea; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - diagnosis; Sleep. Vigilance; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the upper aerodigestive tract; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young Adult; China; Attitudes; Anesthesiologist; Questionnaire; Obstructive sleep apnea; Knowledge; Nervous system diseases; Sleep apnea syndrome; Respiratory disease; Attitude; Sleep disorder; Survey; Sleep; Sleep wake cycle; Neurological disorder
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-011-0482-4

Objective The objectives of this study were to measure the anesthesiologists' knowledge and attitudes about OSA and assess the need for additional educational programs focusing on OSA. Methods The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (OSAKA) developed by Helena Metal was translated into Chinese and distributed to anesthesiologists from Shandong Province. Anesthesiologists completed the OSAKA questionnaire containing sections regarding knowledge (18 items) and attitudes about OSA (5 items). Results A total of 321 questionnaires were completed. The mean total knowledge score was 11.21, with the scores ranging from 2 to 17. The total correct score ratio was 62%. The knowledge score positively corrected with the participants' job titles and attitude scores. None of the dependent variables, such as sex, age, education, and working in a different hospital level, affected the score. Conclusion The study shows that anesthesiologists lack adequate knowledge about OSA. The total correct score ratio was 62%; when they managed an OSA patient, the positive attitude score is mostly below 50%. They have low confidence about OSA patients. It is necessary to develop special training programs on OSA regularly for anesthesiologists after graduation.