Patient Preference and Adherence (Oct 2023)
Credentials That Matter While Selecting a Surgeon for Major Surgical Treatment
Abstract
Arif Raza,1 Kheya Melo Furtado,1,* Devasheesh Mathur2,* 1Healthcare Management, Goa Institute of Management, Goa, India; 2Strategy and General Management, International Management Institute, New Delhi, India*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Arif Raza, Healthcare Management, Goa Institute of Management, Goa, 403505, India, Tel: +91 7566693564, Email [email protected]: The credentials of surgeons, which include elements such as medical degree and length of practice, are vital information that forms a perception of their expertise in the patients’ minds. The specific credentials that matter to patients and how important they are have not been sufficiently studied. The objective of this study was to assess the relative importance that patients assign to the specific credentials of a surgeon while selecting one for surgical treatment.Methods: This study was conducted using the constant-variable-value vignette (CVVV) method. Four credentials– medical degrees, duration of practice, medical college attended, and type of surgeries performed – were assessed for their relative importance to patients. The participants were provided with vignettes of medical situations that required major surgical intervention and profiles of surgeons who could perform the required surgery, each dominating the others in a specific credential. The participants allocated a total of 10 points across the four surgeons proportionate to their preferences. The response data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-tests.Results: The highest mean score of 3.73 (SD 2.21) was observed for the surgeon with focused experience, followed by 2.55 (1.57) for the surgeon with the best medical degrees, 2.17 (1.65) for the surgeon with the longest practice experience, and 1.54 (1.47) for the surgeon from a higher-ranked medical college. The mean of the surgeon with focused experience was significantly higher than that of other surgeons, and the mean of the surgeon with the best medical degrees was significantly higher than that of surgeons with the longest practice experience and the surgeon from the topmost medical college (p < 0.05). Preference did not vary with respondents’ age or gender.Conclusion: Patients seem to prioritize the focused surgical experience and superior medical degrees in their selection of surgeons.Plain Language Summary: Undergoing major surgery is an incredibly critical situation for most patients, as it entails not only physical discomfort but also inherent risks. Given the specialized nature of medical care, patients rely heavily on their surgeons for advice and treatment. Therefore, selection of right surgeon becomes paramount for patients facing such decisions. Previous research has elucidated that the perceived level of expertise of a surgeon, significantly influence patients’ choice.Medical practitioners typically display their credentials as a means of showcasing their expertise. However, specific credentials that hold the most significance in shaping patients’ perceptions of expertise remain unclear. In our study, we simulated various medical scenarios necessitating surgery and presented profiles of surgeons, each possessing distinct sets of credentials. We then solicited participants’ preferences for surgeons by allowing them to allocate points based on their perceived qualifications.Our findings revealed that patients accord highest importance to a surgeon with relevant experience in the type of surgery required, followed by a surgeon with the most prestigious medical degrees. This indicates that, when it comes to surgical decisions, patients place a premium on focused practical experience over other aspects of a surgeon’s credentials.Keywords: choice of doctors, preferred surgeon, doctor credentials, doctor qualifications, doctor experience
