| Summary: | Background: The role of the anesthesiologist remains uncertain, and many patients still do not recognize the functions of the anesthesiologist. There are still several concerns about anesthesia. The main objectives of this study were to assess the perception of the role of the anesthesiologist and to understand the main concerns regarding the anesthetic procedure. Methods: Prospective study carried out for 2 months in patients before the pre-anesthetic consultation. A questionnaire with 15 questions about demographic data, previous anesthesia, functions of the anesthesiologist, main concerns of patients and knowledge about general and regional anesthesia was delivered. The questions were assessed as correct (one point) or incorrect / do not know / do not answer (0 points). The analysis was performed with SPSS 21, with p <0.20 considered statistically significant. Results: 259 patients were included. 71,8% consider the anesthesiologist to be a specialized physician. The task most recognized by patients was to "put patients to sleep" before surgery and assess the patient before surgery. 24,7% consider the anesthesiologist the most competent member to treat complications such as severe allergic reactions, among others. 59,8% are not afraid of being anesthetized and 80,3% consider anesthesia a safe procedure. The main concern is not waking up after surgery. The difference between the number of correct answers is statistically significant in patients with different levels of education. Conclusions: The role of the anesthesiologist remains underestimated, and patients' knowledge has evolved little over the years. Patients with higher academic levels and previous anesthetic experiences have a better knowledge about anesthetic procedures.
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