Informing and Preparing Patients for Echocardiography

Aim. To examine the awareness and preparedness of patients for echocardiography regarding age, gender, education level, and the type of examination. Methods. A cross-sectional study included patients who came for echocardiography through the outpatient clinic and Clinical Departments of the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek during March and April 2023. A survey questionnaire developed for this research was used as the research instrument on patients’ awareness and preparedness for echocardiography. Results. The study included 106 participants, of which 52 (49%) were males and 54 (51%) were females, with 51% of them having undergone 1 – 3 echocardiographic examinations before. Most participants, 83 (78%), received information verbally. There was no significant difference in the awareness and preparation of participants for echocardiography regarding gender and age. Participants with higher education levels agreed that they knew how the examination was conducted before coming, unlike participants with lower levels of education, and there was a significant statistical difference between the groups (p=0.02). Participants who underwent transesophageal echocardiography stated that they were better informed and prepared compared to those who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (p=0.01). Conclusion. The results of the conducted research indicate that participants are well informed and prepared for echocardiographic examinations, with no significant differences based on gender and age. Participants who underwent transesophageal ultrasound of the heart considered themselves better informed and prepared compared to those who underwent transthoracic echocardiography.