Objective:

To identify key factors associated with anesthesia-related consent hesitancy among adults attending preoperative clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Approach:

• Study Design: A bicentric cross-sectional study conducted in preoperative clinics of two secondary-care institutions.
• Participants: 477 adults aged ≥ 18 years completed a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographics, surgical/anesthesia history, information sources, attitudes, and concerns regarding anesthesia.
• Data Analysis: Multivariable linear regression identified predictors of consent hesitancy; logistic regression assessed self-reported awareness of anesthesia-related complications.

Key Findings:

• 84.5% of participants agreed that anesthesia-related information is crucial for surgical decision-making.
• 86.5% reported complete or mostly trust in anesthesiologists’ judgment.
• Concerns were highest for severe anesthesia-related events, with 55%-62% of participants reporting they were very concerned.
• Awareness of anesthesia-related complications was higher among those with prior surgery, healthcare-provider information, and use of scientific/governmental websites.

Interpretation:

Trust in anesthesiologists and perceived importance of anesthesia information were high, but knowledge gaps and concerns about severe events persisted.

Limitations:

• Convenience sampling limited the ability to calculate a response rate.
• Non-participation primarily due to patient refusal or incomplete responses.

Conclusion:

Targeted preoperative education and clear communication may enhance awareness and reduce consent hesitancy regarding anesthesia.