A Survey of Factors Influencing Specialization in Plastic Surgery Among Chinese Surgeons

Abstract

In recent years, more Chinese surgeons have left other fields to enter plastic surgery. The factors influencing this respecialization have not been elicited. The authors aim to elucidate Chinese surgeons' experience and career satisfaction in this specialty change. Between July and September 2020, the authors conducted an online survey of nonplastic surgeons who received plastic surgery training at an academic center. The survey evaluated their motivation for pursuing their field, practice patterns, and career satisfaction. Responses were compared those who respecialized in plastic surgery with those who did not. A total of 251 nonplastic surgeons completed the survey. The most frequent reasons for pursuing plastic surgery were lifestyle (61.1%), desire to help others (44.4%), and higher compensation (37.3%). Among those who changed fields, employment in academic centers declined from 85% to 51.7%, 70% devoted at least half of their practice to aesthetic surgery, and the median nights on call decreased from 1.54 to 0.38 per week after specializing in plastic surgery. Overall career satisfaction in plastic surgery was significantly higher compared with their former specialties (78.3% versus 28.3%, P 0.05). The authors' study showed that outflow of surgeons from other specialties to plastic surgery is mainly due to burnout, which erodes physicians' satisfaction level and the quality of care they are able to provide. The authors highlight the need for reducing burnout in other surgical fields as well as rigorous plastic and aesthetic surgery training for those changing fields to ensure high-quality patient care.

Letter to the Editor: Uneven Distribution of Physicians by Specialty in East Asia

“…4 In China, the number of cosmetic surgeons has increased significantly over the past decade, as an increasing number of surgeons have switched to cosmetic surgery, which offers a better working environment and compensation, in response to burnout and other problems caused by harsh working conditions. 5 Thus, although the maldistribution of medical specialties has become a problem in East Asia, there is a concentration of physicians in the field of cosmetic surgery, with Japan, China, and South Korea ranking third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, among the top countries with the highest number of plastic surgeons. 6…”