GENERAL-ANESTHESIA - WHO DECIDES, AND WHY

This study sought to determine the relative influence dentists and par ents have on the decision to give a general anaesthetic to a child, an d to identify the factors that influence that decision. The research i nvolved group discussions and in-depth interviewing as a method of inv estigating attitudes and behaviour in greater detail. The results indi cated that parents are not able to make informed choices about general anaesthesia being used on their child; the dentist has the greatest i nfluence on the decision to use general anaesthesia; and that this dec ision is often influenced by non-clinical factors. These non-clinical factors were identified as: the norms of the dentist, overall attitude s to general anaesthesia and how general anaesthesia provision was str uctured locally. The findings suggest that any attempt to reduce the c urrent levels of general anaesthesia further must address these factor s, whilst taking into account the needs of patients and dentists.