Table 3 Factors associated with patients using the internet to gather information about their upcoming anaesthetic. Patients having used the internet to do so (anaesthetic) vs. patients having used the internet to obtain information for other questions (other). Data are percentage (number) and 95% confidence interval for univariate analysis (crude OR) and multivariate regression analysis (adjusted OR)

total n = 334

16.5% (55)

83.5% (279)

Age (years)

18–44

17.5% (31)

82.5% (146)

reference

reference

45–60

14.6% (15)

85.4% (88)

0.80 (0.41–1.57)

1.22 (0.58–2.58)

61–80

16.7% (9)

83.3% (45)

0.94 (0.42–2.16)

1.50 (0.56–4.03)

> 80

0% (0)

0% (0)

n/a

n/a

Gender

male

16.8% (30)

83.2% (148)

reference

reference

female

16.0% (25)

84.0% (131)

0.94 (0.53–1.68)

1.17 (0.62–2.19)

ASA physical status

1

18.5% (33)

81.5% (145)

reference

reference

2

13.3% (20)

86.7% (130)

0.68 (0.37–1.24)

0.56 (2.78–1.15)

3

33.3% (2)

66.7% (4)

2.20 (0.39–12.50)

3.75 (0.50–28.04)

Level of education

apprenticeship etc.

16.7% (38)

83.3% (190)

reference

reference

higher education ^a

16.0% (17)

84.0% (89)

0.96 (0.51–1.78)

0.81 (0.42–1.58)

Previous anaesthetic

no

20.2% (15)

79.8% (63)

reference

reference

yes

15.3% (39)

84.7% (216)

0.71 (0.37–1.36)

0.81 (0.4–1.65)

Average internet usage per week (h)

0

25.0% (2)

75.0% (6)

reference

reference

0 to 5

7.9% (9)

92.1 (105)

0.26 (0.05–1.46)

0.20 (0.33–1.26)

5 to 10

14.6% (15)

85.4% (88)

0.51 (0.09–2.78)

0.44 (0.08–2.54)

10 to 15

22.5% (11)

77.6% (38)

0.87 (0.15–4.92)

0.82 (0.14–5.0)

more than 15

30.0% (18)

70.0% (42)

1.29 (0.24–6.99)

1.22 (0.20–7.28)

Postoperatively planned as outpatient

no

18.2% (20)

81.8% (90)

reference

reference

yes

15.6% (35)

84.4% (189)

0.83 (0.46–1.52)

0.87 (0.42–1.78)

Type of surgery

minor

15.9% (31)

84.1% (164)

reference

reference

moderate

17.8% (24)

82.2% (111)

1.15 (0.64–2.5)

1.36 (0.66–2.80)

major

100% (4)

0% (0)

n/a

n/a