The Effects of Providing Preoperative Statistical Anaesthetic-Risk Information

Abstract

Are patients who are provided with details about anaesthesia risks on the eve of surgery better informed, and does the information increase their anxiety? Forty (ASA Class I or 1/) patients scheduled for surgery requiring general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to either a routine or a detailed information group. Levels of anxiety were assessed by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Actual knowledge of risks was assessed by a special visual analogue scale. Patients had experienced an average of five previous anaesthetics and so most patients in both groups knew the risks of common complications such as nausea and sore throat and were able to represent them accurately on the visual analogue scale. The detailed group, however, had gained more accurate knowledge of the likelihood of two rare complications, death (P< 0.001) and serious tooth damage (P < 0.05). Notwithstanding, there was no difference between the groups in anxiety. Thus, provision of detailed information about the risks of the complications of general anaesthesia did increase patients' knowledge but did not increase patients' levels of anxiety.

Will a 1-Page Informational Handout Decrease Patients' Most Common Fears of Anesthesia and Surgery?

“…Previous studies have shown variable outcomes regarding the effectiveness of preoperative information when provided as statistical risk information 11,12 during clinical encounters [13][14][15][16] or preoperatively by an educational videotape. [17][18][19] What seems to be clear from the previous studies is that the optimal and most cost-effective methods for providing patients information that will reduce their fears has not yet been determined.…”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children under Anesthesia: The Relationship between the Degree of Information Provided to Parents and Parents’ Anxiety Scores

“…Parents preferred to have complete perioperative information, although highly detailed information provided no change in anxiety score [10]. Some authors have claimed that providing detailed information only increased patient anxiety [31], while others have reported that providing detailed information was beneficial and anxiety levels did not increase [10, 14, 32]. Similarly, in this study, the state anxiety scores of the parents decreased significantly when the anesthesiologist provided detailed information about the procedure, in addition to the information form provided during the outpatient examination, before anesthesia.…”

Consent for regional anaesthesia in the United Kingdom: what is material risk?

“…5 However, it has been shown that detailed information given to patients about the risks associated with anaesthesia does not make them more anxious. 11 Our default position should change; full information should be provided unless a patient specifically indicates a desire to be kept ignorant of relevant risks. Jackson et al 12 surveyed women during labour immediately after their request for epidural analgesia.…”