The patients' understanding on the status and role of anaesthesiologists.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patients' understanding on the status and role of anaesthesiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The interview had three segments which questioned on (i) patients' knowledge of the qualification, training and role of anaesthesiologists, (ii) attitude of patients towards anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists and (iii) the demographic data of patients. RESULTS: Of 384 patients interviewed, 59.4% had prior anaesthesia experience. Most patients (95.6%) knew that anaesthesiologists were medical doctors, but only 27.1% knew the duration of training required to attain this specialist qualification. Patients' awareness of the various anaesthetic responsibilities was 12.2% in managing labour pain, 25.5% in intensive care units, 49.2% in chronic pain and 99.5% in postoperative pain management. During surgery, 73.7% of patients knew that anaesthesiologists were monitoring their vital signs, but only 42.2% thought anaesthesiologists also treated medical problems intraoperatively. Most patients (95.1%) would like to meet their anaesthesiologists prior to the operation and 97.7% want them to inform all possible anaesthesia complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients' understanding and awareness of the status and roles of anaesthesiologists are still limited and variable. This can be further improved with patient interaction and public education.

Occupational radiation exposure to anesthetists from fluoroscopic projections during orthopedic operative procedures.

PURPOSE: The role of anesthetists during orthopedic fluoroscopic procedures exposes them to radiation. We conducted a prospective, descriptive study to estimate the radiation exposure to anesthetists during procedures over a six-month period in the orthopedic trauma operating theatres which had the most fluoroscopic usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips were placed two metres away from the radiation source, in three positions to simulate the anesthetist's position in the operating theatre during the fluoroscopic procedures as well as their radiation safety practices. The three positions were above the lead gown, behind the lead gown and behind the protective lead screen. The fourth TLD chip was assigned as a control measure to account for background radiation. The radiation exposure was measured at every end of each month during the period of six consecutive months. The TLD chips were sent to the Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology (MINT) for the analysis. RESULTS: From the study, the annual exposure without a protective shield at a 2 metre distance from the projection source was estimated to be 0.70 milliSievert (mSv)/year. With the use of lead gowns and protective lead screens, the annual exposure was estimated to be 0.08 mSv / year. All the radiation levels measured were within the maximum permissible dose of 50 mSv / year. CONCLUSIONS: During fluoroscopic assisted orthopedic procedures, the anesthetists in UKMMC are exposed to a small amount of radiation which is well below the annual maximum permissible limit as determined by local and international regulatory bodies.