Preoperative Fasting Time and Factorrs Affecting Adherence to Preoperative Fasting Time Among Adult Patient Undergoing Elective Surgery at Siant Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Adis Ababa Ethiopia

Introduction: Preoperative fasting is a time-tested professional practice that is undertaken for physiological and precautionary benefits to patients globally. Adherence to preoperative fasting guidelines is crucial for ensuring patient safety and minimizing complications during surgical procedures. Objective: This study aimed to assess preoperative fasting times and factors affecting adherence to fasting guidelines among adult patients undergoing elective surgery at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 277 patients who underwent elective surgery at St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College was conducted. A stratified sampling technique was used to assign samples for each stratum (type of surgery), and a systematic random sampling technique was used to select participants from each stratum. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, preoperative fasting instructions, knowledge, and actual fasting times were collected via a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with adherence to fasting guidelines. Statistical significance of P < 0.25 for bivariate regression and P < 0.05 for multivariate regression were considered. Results: Most patients fasted considerably longer than recommended, with mean fasting times of 9.76 +/- 3.21 h for clear fluids, 10.84 +/- 2.92 h for semisolids, and 11.92 +/- 2.89 h for solids. Only 10.9 % of patients knew the importance of fasting before surgery, and 92.7 % did not receive information about why avoiding food and fluids was necessary. Factors significantly associated with poor adherence to fasting guidelines included being scheduled second or later for surgery (AOR: 5.199, 95 % CI: 1.412-19.143) and having no previous history of surgery (AOR: 8.746, 95 % CI: 2.462-31.072). Conclusion: Prolonged preoperative fasting times and poor adherence to fasting guidelines were observed among the study participants. Patient education, standardized protocols, and multidisciplinary collaboration are recommended to improve adherence, enhance patient safety, and promote better anesthesia and surgical outcomes.