Public Awareness About the Role of Anesthesiologists in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Anesthesiologists play a critical role in patient care before, during, and after surgery. Despite their importance, public awareness of their roles remains low. This study aimed to assess public knowledge regarding anesthesiologists' responsibilities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, focusing on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Methodology A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted from September 2023 to September 2024. Participants from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aged 18 years and above, were recruited via social media advertisements. A web-based questionnaire was used to gather data, adapted from a survey created by the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis, with a sample size of 449 respondents. Results The majority of participants (n = 369, 82.2%) correctly identified anesthesiologists as responsible for administering anesthesia during surgery. Additionally, 275 (61.2%) participants recognized that surgeons and anesthesiologists have distinct roles (p = 0.037). Nearly 252 (56.1%) participants believed anesthesiologists determine patient eligibility for surgery, while 225 (50.1%) acknowledged their role in controlling vital signs during surgery. Among those scheduled for admission, 306 (68.2%) preferred receiving detailed pre-surgical anesthesia information. Social media was the most preferred platform for raising awareness (n = 216, 48.1%). A significant gender difference was observed in perceptions of responsible persons for resuscitation, patient recovery, and blood transfusion during surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusions Public awareness of anesthesiologists' roles remains limited, particularly outside the operating room. Targeted educational campaigns using digital platforms could improve understanding and reduce misconceptions about the role of anesthesiologists, enhancing patient satisfaction and recruitment into the field.