David N Bernstein1, Ankit Sood2, Jos J Mellema3, Yue Li4, David Ring5. 1. University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 54, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA. 2. Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Yawkey Center, Suite 2100, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. 3. Department of Surgery, Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE, Beverwijk, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Health Policy and Outcomes Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box CU 420644, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, NY, 14642, USA. 5. Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1400 Barbara Jordan Blvd. Suite 2.834; MC: R1800, Austin, TX, 78723, USA. david.ring@austin.utexas.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There is evidence that surgeons make different recommendations for people seeking their care than they make for themselves. There may also be differences in pain episodes and management strategies between surgeons and people seeking care, knowledge of which might improve care. We aimed to assess whether the prevalence of non-traumatic pains, treatments and other factors differed between patients and surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-hundred and twenty surgeons, members of the Science of Variation Group (SOVG), and 248 patients seeking care at the Hand Service at a large academic hospital completed a survey regarding the lifetime incidence of non-traumatic pains lasting > one month using short versions of the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS-4); Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2); and Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI-5). RESULTS: Surgeons had a higher prevalence of at least one non-traumatic pain than patients and were more likely to report pain at more than one anatomical site. Patients were more likely to receive any treatment: surgery; injection; non-opioid medication; opioid medication; physical or occupational therapy. Patients missed work more often than surgeons. Age was the only factor independently associated with patient pain. Practicing in the United States was the only factor independently associated with surgeon pain. CONCLUSIONS: Non-traumatic pains are extremely common. Surgeons have particularly effective coping strategies, allowing them to maintain their life roles with limited medical care when in pain. Increasing the appeal and availability of methods for optimising coping strategies might help to narrow the gap between surgeon and patient health.
PURPOSE: There is evidence that surgeons make different recommendations for people seeking their care than they make for themselves. There may also be differences in pain episodes and management strategies between surgeons and people seeking care, knowledge of which might improve care. We aimed to assess whether the prevalence of non-traumatic pains, treatments and other factors differed between patients and surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-hundred and twenty surgeons, members of the Science of Variation Group (SOVG), and 248 patients seeking care at the Hand Service at a large academic hospital completed a survey regarding the lifetime incidence of non-traumatic pains lasting > one month using short versions of the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS-4); Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2); and Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI-5). RESULTS: Surgeons had a higher prevalence of at least one non-traumatic pain than patients and were more likely to report pain at more than one anatomical site. Patients were more likely to receive any treatment: surgery; injection; non-opioid medication; opioid medication; physical or occupational therapy. Patients missed work more often than surgeons. Age was the only factor independently associated with patientpain. Practicing in the United States was the only factor independently associated with surgeon pain. CONCLUSIONS:Non-traumatic pains are extremely common. Surgeons have particularly effective coping strategies, allowing them to maintain their life roles with limited medical care when in pain. Increasing the appeal and availability of methods for optimising coping strategies might help to narrow the gap between surgeon and patient health.
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