Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Regional Anesthesia among Anesthesiology Residents in Government Teaching Referral Hospitals in Addis Ababa

Abstract

Abstract Background: Studies have highlighted that regional anesthesia (RA) is associated with better pain control, fewer side effects, and improved patient satisfaction compared to general anesthesia. However, the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of anesthesiology residents towards regional anesthesia in Ethiopian teaching hospitals have not been studied. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of regional anesthesia among anesthesiology residents in government teaching referral hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2025 to December 2025. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 130 anesthesiology residents. Data were collected using Google Forms and exported to SPSS version 27 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage were computed and presented using tables and figures. Result: The study revealed that the majority of the residents had moderate knowledge (58.5%), followed by very good knowledge (33.8%), good knowledge (6.9%) and only 0.8% had very poor knowledge of regional anesthesia. Moreover, 51.5% of residents did not receive lectures on RA during their residency, and 76.9% did not receive hands-on training. Similarly, 51.5% had very good attitude, 26.9% had good attitude, 19% had medium attitude, and only 2% had a poor attitude toward RA. The results showed that 94.6% had practiced RA, whereas only 5.4% did not practice it. Conclusion: Overall, while the majority of anesthesiology residents in Addis Ababa’s government teaching referral hospitals exhibit moderate to very good knowledge, positive attitudes, and engagement in RA practice, there are notable gaps in specific knowledge and practice areas. Addressing these gaps through enhanced training programs and mentorship is essential to ensure residents are well-prepared to provide safe and effective RA in their future practice. Keywords: KAP, regional anesthesia, Anesthesiology residents, Addis Ababa