The Patient AS EDUcator in Anesthesia: Exploring the Patients' Experience During Routine Cesarean Delivery

This study aims to explore the experience that the patient has as they undergo a routine Cesarean Delivery (CD). The indication for undergoing a routine CD varies amongst patients, but usually there is either an obstetric or medical reason for requiring a planned delivery of an infant via CD. Similarly, the experience of the CD varies significantly between patients as there are many patient, surgical and anesthetic factors that interact to create the unique experience each patient has. This study aims to explore the patients' perspective and learn about their preferences, concerns and suggestions regarding their experience of CD and to then use this information to enhance the quality of future anesthesia care for elective CD. Patients who have undergone a routine CD will be approached the day following their delivery, while their recollection of their experience is still fresh, and given the opportunity to participate in the study, which will involve the completion of a questionnaire as well as an interview lasting approximately 20-25 minutes. In addition to interviewing the patients, the study will also involve several interviews of obstetricians, anesthesiologists and nurses with the goal of seeing how the patients' experiences compare to the providers' perspective of the care they are delivering. Following the gathering of this information and identification of potential improvements in current practice a follow up study will be performed aiming to implement changes and improve the quality of anesthesia care during elective CD.