[2026-01-28] Surgeon Satisfaction With Anesthesia Services at Srinagarind Hospital: A Comparison With Data From 7 Years Ago

Jiranuwat Kaewhan; Narin  Plailaharn; Panaratana Ratanasuwan; Thepakorn Sathitkarmanee; Sirirat Tribuddharat

doi:10.33165/rmj.2026.e276372

Authors

Jiranuwat Kaewhan Division of Nursing, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5310-4823
Narin Plailaharn Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3514-9647
Panaratana Ratanasuwan Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2463-8063
Thepakorn Sathitkarmanee Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8401-1510
Sirirat Tribuddharat Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9434-4792

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33165/rmj.2026.e276372

Keywords:

Surgeon satisfaction, Anesthesia services, Perioperative care, Patient safety, Quality improvement

Abstract

Background: Surgeon satisfaction with anesthesia services is a critical quality indicator that drives multidisciplinary improvement in perioperative care.

Objective: To assess current satisfaction levels and compare improvements over a 7-year period.

Methods: This prospective, descriptive study was conducted between May 2024 and July 2024 at Srinagarind Hospital. This study surveyed 41 surgeons (faculty physicians, residents, and staff physicians) across multiple departments using a validated questionnaire covering preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative recovery room, and ward-based anesthesia services. Satisfaction was measured using a 4-point Likert scale and compared with the 2016-2017 baseline data from 102 surgeons.

Results: Response rate was 100% (41/41). Overall satisfaction scores ranged from 3.56 to 3.98 (very high satisfaction). The highest satisfaction areas included: fasting guidelines, anesthesia initiation timing, and postoperative patient visits (mean [SD], 3.95 [0.22], 3.98 [0.16], and 3.97 [0.16], respectively). Compared with 2016-2017, significant improvements were observed in coordination systems (mean [SD], 3.46 [0.57] to 3.95 [0.22]; P < .001), emergency scheduling (mean [SD], 3.42 [0.64] to 3.88 [0.33]; P < .01), and sign-in cooperation (mean [SD], 3.53 [0.59] to 3.90 [0.30]; P < .01). Areas for improvement included preoperative coordination communication and glucose loading protocols (mean [SD], 3.63 [0.49] and 3.60 [0.59], respectively).

Conclusions: Surgeon satisfaction with anesthesia services at Srinagarind Hospital consistently demonstrated high levels, with marked improvements over 7 years, particularly in coordination systems and safety protocols. A continued focus on communication and evidence-based preoperative protocols will further improve multidisciplinary collaboration.

References

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. National Academies Press (US); 2001. doi:10.17226/10027

Donabedian A. The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA. 1988;260(12):1743-1748. doi:10.1001/jama.260.12.1743

Baker DP, Gustafson S, Beaubien JM, Salas E, Barach P. Medical Team Training Programs in Health Care. In: Henriksen K, Battles JB, Marks ES, et al, eds. Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation (Volume 4: Programs, Tools, and Products). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2005:253-267.

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MS, eds. To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System. National Academies Press (US); 2000. doi:10.17226/9728

Pronovost P, Needham D, Berenholtz S, et al. An intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(26):2725-2732. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa061115

Haynes AB, Weiser TG, Berry WR, et al. A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality in a global population. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(5):491-499. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa0810119

Lingard L, Espin S, Whyte S, et al. Communication failures in the operating room: an observational classification of recurrent types and effects. Qual Saf Health Care. 2004;13(5):330-334. doi:10.1136/qhc.13.5.330

Makary MA, Sexton JB, Freischlag JA, et al. Operating room teamwork among physicians and nurses: teamwork in the eye of the beholder. J Am Coll Surg. 2006;202(5):746-752. doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2006.01.017

Chaikree Y, Tribuddharat S, Sathitkarnmanee T, Suttinarakorn C, Unchulee A, Thananun M. Satisfaction with anesthesia services of surgeon at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen province. Srinagarind Med J. 2018;33(3):272-277.

World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines for Safe Surgery 2009: Safe Surgery Saves Lives. World Health Organization; 2009.

Birkmeyer JD, Finks JF, O'Reilly A, et al. Surgical skill and complication rates after bariatric surgery. N Engl J Med. 2013;369(15):1434-1442. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa1300625

COVIDSurg Collaborative. Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study. Lancet. 2020;396(10243):27-38. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31182-X

Mazzocco K, Petitti DB, Fong KT, et al. Surgical team behaviors and patient outcomes. Am J Surg. 2009;197(5):678-685. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2008.03.002

Neily J, Mills PD, Young-Xu Y, et al. Association between implementation of a medical team training program and surgical mortality. JAMA. 2010;304(15):1693-1700. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1506

Le May S, Dupuis G, Harel F, Taillefer MC, Dubé S, Hardy JF. Clinimetric scale to measure surgeons' satisfaction with anesthesia services. Can J Anaesth. 2000;47(5):398-405. doi:10.1007/BF03018967

Flin R, Yule S, Paterson-Brown S, Maran N, Rowley D, Youngson G. Teaching surgeons about non-technical skills. Surgeon. 2007;5(2):86-89. doi:10.1016/s1479-666x(07)80059-x

Leonard M, Graham S, Bonacum D. The human factor: the critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing safe care. Qual Saf Health Care. 2004;13 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):i85-i90. doi:10.1136/qhc.13.suppl_1.i85

Zwarenstein M, Goldman J, Reeves S. Interprofessional collaboration: effects of practice-based interventions on professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(3):CD000072. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000072.pub2

Amalberti R, Auroy Y, Berwick D, Barach P. Five system barriers to achieving ultrasafe health care. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(9):756-764. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-142-9-200505030-00012

Gawande AA, Zinner MJ, Studdert DM, Brennan TA. Analysis of errors reported by surgeons at three teaching hospitals. Surgery. 2003;133(6):614-621. doi:10.1067/msy.2003.169

Weiser TG, Haynes AB, Molina G, et al. Size and distribution of the global volume of surgery in 2012. Bull World Health Organ. 2016;94(3):201-209F. doi:10.2471/BLT.15.159293

Russ S, Rout S, Sevdalis N, Moorthy K, Darzi A, Vincent C. Do safety checklists improve teamwork and communication in the operating room? a systematic review. Ann Surg. 2013;258(6):856-871. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000000206

Catchpole KR, Dale TJ, Hirst DG, Smith JP, Giddings TA. A multicenter trial of aviation-style training for surgical teams. J Patient Saf. 2010;6(3):180-186. doi:10.1097/PTS.0b013e3181f100ea

Hull L, Arora S, Aggarwal R, Darzi A, Vincent C, Sevdalis N. The impact of nontechnical skills on technical performance in surgery: a systematic review. J Am Coll Surg. 2012;214(2):214-230. doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.10.016

Sutcliffe KM, Lewton E, Rosenthal MM. Communication failures: an insidious contributor to medical mishaps. Acad Med. 2004;79(2):186-194. doi:10.1097/00001888-200402000-00019

Reader TW, Flin R, Mearns K, Cuthbertson BH. Developing a team performance framework for the intensive care unit. Crit Care Med. 2009;37(5):1787-1793. doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e31819f0451

Smith MD, McCall J, Plank L, Herbison GP, Soop M, Nygren J. Preoperative carbohydrate treatment for enhancing recovery after elective surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2014(8):CD009161. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009161.pub2

Ljungqvist O, Scott M, Fearon KC. Enhanced recovery after surgery: a review. JAMA Surg. 2017;152(3):292-298. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2016.4952

Le May S, Hardy JF, Taillefer MC, Dupuis G. Patient satisfaction with anesthesia services. Can J Anaesth. 2001;48(2):153-161. doi:10.1007/BF03019728

Capuzzo M, Gilli G, Paparella L, et al. Factors predictive of patient satisfaction with anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 2007;105(2):435-442. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000270208.99982.88

Fung D, Cohen MM. Measuring patient satisfaction with anesthesia care: a review of current methodology. Anesth Analg. 1998;87(5):1089-1098. doi:10.1097/00000539-199811000-00020