Time Involved in Patient Information During Preoperative Assessment Clinic and Ratio Between Evaluation and Information Times

The aim of the preoperative assessment clinic (PAC) is to ensure optimal anaesthesia, reduce the morbidity associated with surgery, to increase the quality and decrease the cost of perioperative care 1. In addition, the PAC is an appropriate time to educate the patient on anaesthesia, perioperative care, and pain treatments, to reduce anxiety, to develop care plans, and to obtain informed consent. Moreover, a strong correlation exists between the time spent at the PAC and patient satisfaction2,3.

A high variability of preoperative assessment clinic (PAC) times is a reason for waiting time for patient. A better match between the reserved PAC time and the real consultation time could improved efficiency in consultation theatre. The PAC time depends on various parameters. On average the preoperative assessment of patients with a higher American Society Anesthesiologists' (ASA) class requires more time 4. In other monocentric study, the mean (SD) procedure time was 13 (6) min for the physician. It was significantly longer for patients with a higher ASA class : 10 min for ASA I, 14 min for ASA II, 17 min for ASA III and 21 min for ASA IV patients. In this monocentric study, every patient had a nurse consultation before PAC by the anesthesiologist.

The primary endpoint of this study was to assess the time involved in preoperative assessment clinic included the time during patient's health status has to be assessed (this encompasses a medical history and physical examination) and the time during the patient education on anaesthesia, perioperative care and pain treatments, to reduce anxiety, to develop care plans and to obtain informed consent.