Evaluation of learning and practice status of anesthesia specialists in regional block techniques

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the factors affecting the learning methods and practice status of anesthesiologists in regional block techniques during and after residency.Material and Method: After approval of Dokuz Eylul University Non-Invazive Clinical Research Evaluation Comission and The Provincial Health Directorate of Izmir, 228 anesthesiologists were asked to response a survey including 4 parts and 49 questions. One hundred and eighty-eight anesthesiologists between 30-65 years of age and 1-33 years of speciality responsed the survey. Education proficiency was determined by at least 50 spinal, 50 epidural and 50 peripheral blocks practice during residency. Specialists were asked for their spinal, epidural and peripheral block counts in 2009, median of block practice counts were calculated and study group was classified as ? practicing at and over median? or ? practicing under median?.Results: Education proficiency ratios for spinal, epidural and peripheral blocks were found as 98.1 %, 92.5 % and 62.3 %, respectively. It is determined that participants who have adequate education (p=0.023), are at the age of 40 and over 40 (p=0.003), have speciality years of 10 and more (p=0.030), attended to a regional block rotation at an another national center (p=0.000), are considering their peripheral block education (p=0.000) and practice (p=0.012) as adequate and are following innovations have performed more peripheral blocks during 2009. Participants who follow innovations by pressed materials (p=0.030), scientific activities (p=0.000) and web sites (p=0.020) perform significantly more peripheral blocks. It is determined that participants who think central block practice as adequate (p=0.029) and who work at state or private hospitals perform significantly more central blocks (p=0.017).Conclusion: Central blocks are learned in higher ratios than peripheral blocks during residency period; in practice after residency educational and practical proficiency together with following innovations affect positively the peripheral block practice.Besides all, we concluded that the reason why central blocks are being performed more in state and private hospitals than in teaching hospitals, has to be investigated.Keywords: Regional anesthesia, education, peripheral nerve block, central block