Knowledge and Performance in Guilan Teaching Hospital Regarding Pre-operative Fasting Guidelines

Abstract

Background: Despite the development of new pre-operative fasting guidelines, adherence to traditional instructions remains common in hospitals. The knowledge and performance of the medical team regarding new guidelines are crucial for patient safety. Methods: This study was conducted in hospitals affiliated with Guilan University of Medical Sciences (GUMS) to assess both faculty members’ and residents’ knowledge and performance regarding preoperative fasting times. During 2023, researcher-made questionnaires, consisting of demographic data and items to assess the knowledge and performance of physicians, were completed through face-to-face interviews. Results: A total of 93 physicians, with an average work experience of 5.15 ± 5.7 years, participated in the study, of which 19 (20.4%) were professors and 74 (79.6%) were assistants. The results indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in the total knowledge scores based on educational fields (P = 0.005). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in the total performance scores based on the gender of the physicians (P = 0.002), years of experience (P = 0.018), academic degree (P = 0.038), and educational fields (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of comprehensive education to ensure that patients receive evidence-based care during the preoperative fasting period. Furthermore, the low rate of willingness to participate in this study indicates that the importance of this issue is not well-recognized among the physicians involved.