Spirituality and Wellness in Plastic Surgery: A Survey of ASPS Members

Spirituality is an important, yet often overlooked, component of personal well-being. The purpose of this study was to assess whether spirituality plays an important role in the well-being of US plastic surgeons and residents, and whether spirituality is viewed as an important component of patient care.

An anonymous and voluntary email survey was distributed to 3375 members of ASPS during the months of April through June of 2020. The survey distribution included 2230 active members of ASPS and 1149 resident members, all who practice or train within the United States. The survey consisted of 18 multiple-choice questions with answer choices based on a descriptive five-point Likert scale and ranking by priority. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using StataCorp 2019 software.

A total of 431 completed surveys were received for a response rate of 12.7%. The majority of participants (70%) reported that personal spiritual beliefs and faith contribute positively to emotional well-being. In total, 65% agreed or strongly agreed that their spiritual beliefs provide a healthy framework for handling conflict, suffering, and loss. More than half (51%) reported that as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, their spiritual beliefs and practices have provided increased support and guidance.

Spirituality is an important component of maintaining wellness for plastic surgeons, and spirituality is recognized by plastic surgeons as an important aspect of the healing process for patients. Efforts should be made to promote spiritual health among the surgical community both during training and in practice.