What defines a great surgeon? A survey study confronting perspectives

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Practice
• Healthcare Professionals

Background:

• The definition of a great surgeon is often self-reported by surgeons.
• A comprehensive understanding requires incorporating patient and healthcare worker perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a multifaceted definition of a great surgeon.
• To compare the perspectives of patients, healthcare workers, and surgeons on surgical qualities.

Main Methods:

• An online open-ended questionnaire surveyed 1,620 respondents (surgeons, patients, OT and non-OT health professionals).
• Qualities and shortcomings were categorized into human qualities, technical surgical skills (TSS), non-technical skills (NTS), and knowledge.
• Multivariate analyses examined relationships between themes and respondent characteristics.

Main Results:

• Dexterity, meticulousness, and empathy were the top three qualities identified.
• Non-operating theater health professionals and patients emphasized human qualities more than surgeons.
• Operating theater health professionals highlighted non-technical skills (NTS) more than surgeons, while surgeons prioritized knowledge.

Conclusions:

• The definition of a great surgeon is multifaceted, with human qualities being highly important alongside technical skills.
• Knowledge is essential for surgical success, though potentially underestimated by non-surgeons.
• Integrating diverse perspectives is key to a holistic understanding of surgical excellence.