Recall of preoperative anaesthesia information in Hong Kong Chinese patients

BCP Cheng, PP Chen, DCK Cheng, CPW Chu, HY So
Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Operating Services, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, 11 Chuen On Street, Tai Po, Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the ability of patients to recall information provided during a preoperative visit.

DESIGN. Qualitative study.

SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Sixty patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia or central neuro-axial block.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Satisfactory recall of preoperative information, defined as the ability to remember at least 75% of adverse effects described.

RESULTS. Fifty-nine (98.3%) patients were satisfied with the preoperative information. Forty-two (70%) patients rated anaesthetic complications as important. At the interview on the day of the operation, 57 (95%) patients had satisfactory recall of the information provided. Eighty-five percent of patients remembered that the information was provided by an anaesthesiologist. After the operation, of those who experienced adverse effects, 48 (96%) patients remembered being told to anticipate the adverse anaesthetic event. Univariate analysis found that age, sex, education level, occupation, and the modality of anaesthesia did not affect patient recall of preoperative information on the day of surgery or 1 day postsurgery.

CONCLUSION. There was satisfactory recall of preoperative information by the majority of patients in the study. Most patients expressed satisfaction with the information provided.

Hong Kong Med J 2002;8:181-4

Key words: Anesthesia; Memory/drug effects; Recall