An Initial Inquiry Into What Practicing Surgeons Think is Important to Know From Psychology

Abstract

The Psychology of Surgery: An Initial Inquiry Into What Practicing Surgeons Think is Important to Know From Psychology. Abstract Background: There is growing interest in potential contributions psychological science can make to the practice of surgery. However, as an expansive field, selecting relevant content for education and training can be challenging. We surveyed practicing surgeons to assess their perception of the most relevant psychological topics and their mastery for excellence in a surgical career and care. Methods: A list of surgery-related psychological topics was generated from content in the surgical literature and from experience. They were then reviewed by subject matter experts. The survey was distributed to attending surgeons who rated each item’s importance and also their degree of mastery (from 0 low to 7 high). Results: Twenty-three surgeons of various subspecialties participated. Topics of highest importance had mean scores approaching the highest potential rating of 7. Qualitative analysis suggested 4 categorical themes: coping with difficult events, communication skills, leadership skills, and psychological performance skills. A significant correlation was found between ratings of importance and mastery, but mean ratings of mastery were significantly lower than ratings of importance. Discussion: This study found that practicing surgeons endorse a large number of psychological topics as being of high importance in surgical practice. However, ratings of mastery were significantly lower than ratings of importance. These findings suggest the need for training and education in the psychology of surgery for surgeons and surgical residents and provide potential targets for such training.