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What Does the Average Person Know About Endocrine and Vascular Surgeons?
Ashley Aune1, Jessica M Fazendin2, Ammar Asban1
1Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|July 20, 2019
Summary
Public understanding of endocrine surgeons and vascular surgeons is low. Most people could not define their roles or recognize their full scope of practice, highlighting a need for better public education on surgical subspecialties.
Area of Science:
- Medical Specialties
- Surgical Education
- Public Health
Background:
- Surgical subspecialization can cause public confusion regarding surgeon scope of practice.
- Assessing public awareness of endocrine and vascular surgery is crucial for effective patient navigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate public understanding of the roles and practice areas of endocrine surgeons and vascular surgeons.
- To identify common misconceptions about these surgical subspecialties.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, involving 150 participants across diverse public locations.
- Participants were asked to define endocrine and vascular surgeons and their practice scope.
- Responses were analyzed for accuracy, recognition of surgical roles, and identification of misconceptions.
Main Results:
- Public recognition of endocrine surgery (21%) and vascular surgery (18%) as surgical professions was low.
- Fewer participants could define endocrine surgery (14%) compared to vascular surgery (57%).
- A significant majority struggled to identify the full scope of practice for both endocrine (3%) and vascular surgeons (11%), with frequent confusion with related specialties.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant lack of public understanding regarding endocrine and vascular surgery.
- Increased public outreach and clear communication are necessary to enhance awareness of these specialized surgical fields and their expertise.
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