Case reports

Patients’ preference for general or regional anaesthesia for caesarean deliveries at a district hospital, Free State, South Africa
Abstract
Background. Informing patients about available anaesthesia options allows patients to share in decision-making.
Objectives. To determine the preference for general or regional anaesthesia among patients admitted for elective caesarean delivery at a district hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and whether the patients were informed about their anaesthesia options by their doctor.
Methods. Consecutive sampling was used. Patients ≥18 years old and who had had a caesarean delivery under general or regional anaesthesia participated in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which was completed during formal interviews with patients.
Results. Of the 50 patients interviewed, 30 (60.0%) preferred regional anaesthesia. With regard to the current surgery, 58.0% stated that they were informed of the available anaesthesia options.
Conclusion. The majority of the patients in our study preferred regional anaesthesia. Although only 58.0% reported that they received information, many of those valued the doctor’s opinion in their choice of anaesthesia.
Authors' affiliations
J Hanekom, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
R Hattingh, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
W Nel, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
K Thirion, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
C Willemse, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
G Joubert, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
C Boltman, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
J Botes, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Date published: 2019-11-06
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