Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Abdullah S. Alibrahim; Amjad Jaber Bin Jaber; Abdullah Abdulrahman Almogbil; Mohammed Abdulelah Alhazmi; Rana Mohammed Aljabri; Mohammed Abdullah Althubaiti; Eyad Jamil Alghwaji; Azzam Abdulmuti Hanif; Mokhtar Mahfouz Shatla

doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

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Original Article
Online Published: 17 Jan 2026

IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 063-072

doi: 10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey

Abdullah S. Alibrahim, Amjad Jaber Bin Jaber, Abdullah Abdulrahman Almogbil, Mohammed Abdulelah Alhazmi, Rana Mohammed Aljabri, Mohammed Abdullah Althubaiti, Eyad Jamil Alghwaji, Azzam Abdulmuti Hanif, Mokhtar Mahfouz Shatla.

Abstract
Background: Anesthesia is essential in modern surgical care. Although current techniques are generally safe, some individuals remain concerned about the risks of anesthesia and the preoperative process. This study assessed public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and the risks associated with general anesthesia (GA) in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 534 participants using a structured online questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, prior anesthesia exposure, awareness, fears, and communication preferences were analyzed.
Results: Of 534 participants, 290 (54.3%) were women and 296 (55.4%) were aged 18-29 years. Most participants (459, 86.0%) had prior anesthesia experience, and 262 (49.1%) considered preoperative consultation “very important.” Fear of death (205, 38.4%) and postoperative pain (176, 33.0%) were the most common concerns. Women (p = 0.010), younger participants (P < 0.001), and those with health insurance (P = 0.020) showed significantly higher fear levels. In binary logistic regression, male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 0.478, P <0.001) and increasing age (OR = 0.681, P < 0.001) were protective factors, whereas being married (OR = 1.748, P = 0.008) and having health insurance (OR = 1.658, P = 0.013) predicted greater fear. Education, income, and prior anesthesia exposure were not significant predictors.
Conclusion: Fear of GA remains prevalent, particularly among women and younger adults, and appears driven more by emotion than by actual risk. Enhanced public education, clear communication, and early preoperative counseling are needed to improve understanding and foster a more positive perception of anesthesia safety.

Key words: Anesthesia, preoperative care, health knowledge, attitudes, practice, anxiety, Saudi Arabia.

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Pubmed Style

Alibrahim AS, Jaber AJB, Almogbil AA, Alhazmi MA, Aljabri RM, Althubaiti MA, Alghwaji EJ, Hanif AA, Shatla MM. Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

Web Style

Alibrahim AS, Jaber AJB, Almogbil AA, Alhazmi MA, Aljabri RM, Althubaiti MA, Alghwaji EJ, Hanif AA, Shatla MM. Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=298607 [Access: January 25, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alibrahim AS, Jaber AJB, Almogbil AA, Alhazmi MA, Aljabri RM, Althubaiti MA, Alghwaji EJ, Hanif AA, Shatla MM. Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alibrahim AS, Jaber AJB, Almogbil AA, Alhazmi MA, Aljabri RM, Althubaiti MA, Alghwaji EJ, Hanif AA, Shatla MM. Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. IJMDC. (2026), [cited January 25, 2026]; 10(1): 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

Harvard Style

Alibrahim, A. S., Jaber, . A. J. B., Almogbil, . A. A., Alhazmi, . M. A., Aljabri, . R. M., Althubaiti, . M. A., Alghwaji, . E. J., Hanif, . A. A. & Shatla, . M. M. (2026) Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. IJMDC, 10 (1), 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

Turabian Style

Alibrahim, Abdullah S., Amjad Jaber Bin Jaber, Abdullah Abdulrahman Almogbil, Mohammed Abdulelah Alhazmi, Rana Mohammed Aljabri, Mohammed Abdullah Althubaiti, Eyad Jamil Alghwaji, Azzam Abdulmuti Hanif, and Mokhtar Mahfouz Shatla. 2026. Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

Chicago Style

Alibrahim, Abdullah S., Amjad Jaber Bin Jaber, Abdullah Abdulrahman Almogbil, Mohammed Abdulelah Alhazmi, Rana Mohammed Aljabri, Mohammed Abdullah Althubaiti, Eyad Jamil Alghwaji, Azzam Abdulmuti Hanif, and Mokhtar Mahfouz Shatla. "Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alibrahim, Abdullah S., Amjad Jaber Bin Jaber, Abdullah Abdulrahman Almogbil, Mohammed Abdulelah Alhazmi, Rana Mohammed Aljabri, Mohammed Abdullah Althubaiti, Eyad Jamil Alghwaji, Azzam Abdulmuti Hanif, and Mokhtar Mahfouz Shatla. "Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.1 (2026), 063-072. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alibrahim, A. S., Jaber, . A. J. B., Almogbil, . A. A., Alhazmi, . M. A., Aljabri, . R. M., Althubaiti, . M. A., Alghwaji, . E. J., Hanif, . A. A. & Shatla, . M. M. (2026) Public attitudes toward preoperative assessment and risks of general anesthesia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 063-072. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1763816249

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