Professional perceptions of plastic and reconstructive surgery: what primary care physicians think

Area of Science:

• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Medical Education
• Physician Perception

Background:

• The scope of plastic surgery is frequently misunderstood by other medical specialists and the public.
• This study examines the perceptions of physicians-in-training within primary care specialties regarding various plastic surgery subspecialties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the awareness and perceptions of internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics residents regarding the expertise of different surgical specialists for specific clinical scenarios.
• To identify potential gaps in understanding the role of plastic surgeons in reconstructive and aesthetic procedures.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous, web-based survey was distributed to residents in internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics programs across the United States.
• Respondents were asked to identify the perceived expert specialist for six distinct clinical areas: eyelid surgery, cleft lip and palate surgery, facial fractures, hand surgery, rhinoplasty, and facial skin cancer.

Main Results:

• Plastic surgeons were most recognized for rhinoplasty (76%) and eyelid surgery (70%).
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons were perceived as experts for facial fractures (88%) and cleft lip/palate (78%).
• Dermatologists were overwhelmingly recognized for facial skin cancer (89%), while orthopedic surgeons led in hand surgery (76%).

Conclusions:

• Significant variation exists in how primary care trainees perceive specialist expertise in various surgical fields.
• Enhanced educational initiatives are necessary to improve the understanding of plastic surgery's comprehensive scope among internal medicine, pediatrics, and family practice trainees.