Parents’ Satisfaction with Pediatric Ambulatory Anesthesia in Northeast of Thailand
Suhattaya Boonmak MD*, Polpun Boonmak MD*, Kittawan Pothiruk MD*, Nattakhan Hoontanee MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : Study the satisfaction of parents with ambulatory anesthesia and associated factors, including
characteristics of the patients and their parents.
Material and Method: This was a prospective, descriptive, observation study. The authors included children
who were scheduled for ambulatory anesthetic service between birth and 14 years of age and attended at
Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand. The authors excluded patients whose parents could not be
reached by telephone. Before anesthesia, the authors recorded the patients and parents’ characteristics, level
of information perception (pre-, peri- and post-anesthesia and complications). After anesthesia, the anesthe-
sia technique and any complications were recorded. The day after anesthesia, the authors made phone calls
to the patients to record the parents’ satisfaction score (viz, of overall, pre-, peri- and post-anesthesia care,
and information about the level of patient care at home), and any anesthesia related complications.
Results : Ninety-two patients and their parents were included in the present study. Overall parents’ satisfaction
with the anesthesia service was 96.7% (i.e., 89/92) (95% CI 90.8-99.3). Parents’ satisfaction with pre- and
peri-anesthesia care was 100% (95% CI 96.1-100) and 97.9% (95% CI 92.4-99.7), respectively. Parents’
satisfaction with the PACU care and information of patient care at home was 96.7% (95% CI 90.8-99.3) and
91.3% (95% CI 83.6-96.2), respectively. Associated factors where parents were dissatisfied included PACU
care satisfaction (i.e., relative risk 22.5 (95% CI 3.2-158)) and patient care information at home (i.e., relative
risk 13.3 (95% CI 1.3-136.0)).
Conclusion : The present study showed a high level of parents’ satisfaction. Parents’ dissatisfaction associated
with PACU care and information about post anesthesia care at home. Additionally, information on parents’
characteristics provides invaluable data for improving pediatric ambulatory anesthesia in Srinagarind
Hospital.
Keywords : Anesthesia, Child, Pediatric, Out-patient, Parent, Satisfaction
