PREDICTORS OF ATTITUDE OF PARTURIENTS SELECTED FOR CESAREAN SECTION TOWARD SPINAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

There are many factors contributing to success of regional anesthesia. Patients’ attitude toward spinal anesthesia is one of the most important of these factors. This is a descriptive study performed on 100 healthy parturient selected for elective cesarean section in Alzahra Obstetric Hospital,Tabriz, Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients’ attitude and their knowledge about spinal anesthesia. Patients were selected randomly. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire. Statistical programs used were Student’s t test and Chi square for demographic characteristics. The most important factors which influenced patients’ attitude were nausea and vomiting (27%), fear of pain (34%), fear of needle puncture (15%) and discomfort during return of sensory and motor functions (6%). Being awake during surgery and witnessing birth of neonate were the most pleasant stages of anesthesia (19%). It seems that providing enough and appropriate information about the procedure at preoperative visit can increase acceptance of this regional anesthetic technique.