The work, duties and prestige of Finnish anesthesiologists: patients' view.

BACKGROUND

Patients' awareness of the medical qualifications and duties of anesthesiologists outside the operating theatres may be limited. How are anesthesiologists ranked with regard to prestige and academic qualifications among other hospital employees?

METHODS

One hundred and sixty operative patients were interviewed in one tertiary care center and another secondary care center in Finland.

RESULTS

Nearly all (90%) of the patients knew that anesthesiologists are medical doctors and that they work in operation theatres (87%). Many patients thought that anesthesiologists do not work in pain clinics (41%), obstetric departments (36%) and in the departments of radiology (68%), in ambulances (58%) and in research work (46%). Anesthesiologists were ranked second after surgeons with regard to prestige among health service professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients knew the medical qualification of anesthesiologists very well. The work of anesthesiologists was highly appreciated, but the duties outside the operation theatres were poorly known.