Jennifer J Beck1, Martha M Murray, Melissa A Christino. 1. From the Orthopedic Institute for Children/UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (Dr. Beck), the Boston Childrens Hospital, Boston, MA (Dr. Murray), and the Childrens Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA (Dr. Christino).
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Adolescent athletes' and their guardians' preferences for sports medicine surgeon characteristics are unknown. METHODS: Unique, anonymous surveys regarding preferences in characteristics of sports medicine surgeons were given to both patients (aged 10 to 18 years) and their guardians before being seen by a sports medicine surgeon. RESULTS: Patients and their guardians reported shared decision making as the most important surgeon characteristic, followed by understanding patients' sports and goals. A higher percentage of male patients than female patients had a surgeon sex preference (P = 0.005); however, for both the groups, this ranked lower than other surgeon qualities. Nearly all respondents reported that the adolescent patient should be involved in medical decision making; yet, physician selection was determined by the guardian 65% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: Both adolescent patients and their guardians reported shared decision making and understanding patients' sports and goals as surgeon qualities that were more important to them than surgeon sex. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, cross-sectional study.
INTRODUCTION: Adolescent athletes' and their guardians' preferences for sports medicine surgeon characteristics are unknown. METHODS: Unique, anonymous surveys regarding preferences in characteristics of sports medicine surgeons were given to both patients (aged 10 to 18 years) and their guardians before being seen by a sports medicine surgeon. RESULTS:Patients and their guardians reported shared decision making as the most important surgeon characteristic, followed by understanding patients' sports and goals. A higher percentage of male patients than female patients had a surgeon sex preference (P = 0.005); however, for both the groups, this ranked lower than other surgeon qualities. Nearly all respondents reported that the adolescent patient should be involved in medical decision making; yet, physician selection was determined by the guardian 65% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: Both adolescent patients and their guardians reported shared decision making and understanding patients' sports and goals as surgeon qualities that were more important to them than surgeon sex. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, cross-sectional study.