Patients’ attitudes towards the involvement of medical students during induction of regional anesthesia

Abstract

Study objective

We surveyed patients undergoing day surgery to determine attitudes towards medical students’ during induction of regional anesthesia.

Design/Interventions

During a two-month period, an anonymous questionnaire was given to one hundred and eighty patients presenting for elective day surgery with planned regional anesthesia.

Setting

Pre-operative assessment area in a district general hospital.

Patients

All adult elective day surgery patients undergoing regional anesthesia.

Main results

One hundred sixteen patients (72%) would allow medical students to be present during the induction of regional anesthesia, and 104 (63%) would allow medical students to perform basic procedures.

Conclusions

This survey confirms that the majority of patients undergoing regional anesthesia would allow medical students to be present during the induction and to participate in supervised procedures. Concerns regarding patient anxiety could be alleviated by the introduction of the student pre-operatively; the problem of clinical errors made by students is the responsibility of the supervising doctor, and careful selection of practical procedures is crucial.

Keywords:

• patient survey
• regional anesthesia
• medical student

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was waived by Weston General Hospital Audit and Research Board. All survey forms were anonymous.

Disclosure

No conflicts of interest were declared in relation to this paper.