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Related Experiment Videos

Reconstructive breast surgery: referring physician knowledge and learning needs.

Kyle R Wanzel1, Mitchell H Brown, Dimitri J Anastakis

  • 1Division of Plastic Surgery, the Centre for Research in Education, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|November 1, 2002
PubMed
Summary
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Physician knowledge gaps and misinformation about reconstructive breast surgery limit patient referrals. Educational interventions are needed to improve access to this quality-of-life-enhancing procedure for eligible women.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Medical Education

Background:

  • Reconstructive breast surgery significantly improves quality of life for eligible women.
  • Referral rates for reconstructive breast surgery remain low, suggesting potential barriers in physician knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the knowledge and learning needs of physicians regarding reconstructive breast surgery.
  • To identify factors influencing referrals for breast reconstruction.

Main Methods:

  • A needs assessment involving surveys, focus groups, and interviews with primary care physicians, general surgeons, oncologists, and plastic surgeons.
  • Evaluation of physician self-reported knowledge, perceived relevance of topics, and beliefs about breast reconstruction.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Referring physicians reported low knowledge of reconstructive breast surgery, with plastic surgeons rating it even lower.
  • Significant misinformation exists, with over a third of referring physicians believing reconstruction delays cancer detection or interferes with therapy.
  • Inadequate physician knowledge was cited as a reason for not referring eligible candidates, particularly older patients (>49 years).

Conclusions:

  • Deficiencies in physician knowledge and prevalent misinformation negatively impact patient referrals for reconstructive breast surgery.
  • Targeted educational interventions during residency and continuing medical education are crucial to address these gaps.
  • Addressing physician knowledge deficits can improve access to breast reconstruction for a wider patient population.