Surgeon perspectives on preference cards and environmental stewardship

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Operations
• Environmental Sustainability in Medicine

Background:

• Surgical preference cards, if not regularly updated, contribute to unnecessary waste in operating rooms.
• Characterizing surgeon perceptions and practices regarding preference card maintenance is crucial for identifying areas for improvement.
• Understanding barriers to updating these cards and the link to environmental stewardship is essential for sustainable surgical practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize surgeon perceptions and practices related to surgical preference card maintenance.
• To identify barriers that prevent surgeons from updating their preference cards.
• To explore the relationship between surgeons' opinions on environmental stewardship and their preference card maintenance habits.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods survey was conducted at a single tertiary academic medical center.
• Surgeons responded to questions regarding preference card accuracy, update frequency, and perceived environmental impact.
• Statistical analyses, including Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests, compared responses between early-career and mid-to late-career surgeons.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of surgeons rarely or never update preference cards, leading to unused items in cases.
• Unfamiliar processes and perceived effort were identified as major barriers to preference card maintenance.
• Early-career surgeons were more likely to update their preference cards annually compared to mid-to late-career surgeons.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons recognize the role of preference card maintenance in environmental stewardship but are hindered by system complexities and effort.
• Addressing barriers to preference card updates can promote more environmentally sustainable surgical practices.
• Enhanced attention to preference card management is vital for reducing surgical waste and advancing environmental responsibility.