Public Perceptions of Plastic Surgery Practice in Brazil

Abstract

The perception of medical specialists by the public has a significant effect on health-care decisions, research funding allocation, and implantation of educational measures. The purpose of this survey was to assess the public's perception of the field of plastic surgery practice. General public members (n=1290) completed a survey where they matched nine specialties with 28 plastic surgery-related scenarios. Response patterns were distributed as "plastic surgeon alone," "plastic surgeon combined with other specialists," or "no plastic surgeon." Sociodemographic data and previous plastic surgery contact were also collected. "Plastic surgeon alone" was identified as an expert by more than 70 % of respondents in four (40 %) aesthetic-related scenarios and in one (5.5 %) general/reconstructive-related scenario. "Plastic surgeon alone" was significantly (all p<0.05) more recognized as an expert than other response patterns in all aesthetic-related scenarios, except for botulinum toxin for facial wrinkles. There was a significant (all p<0.05) poor understanding of the role of plastic surgeons in facial fracture surgery, facial paralysis management, chest wall surgery, hand surgery-related scenarios, and tumor surgery-related scenarios. Age, health-care professional, education level, and prior plastic surgery contact were significant (all p<0.05) determinants of "plastic surgeon" as a response pattern, according to bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The public has a poor understanding of the broad field of plastic surgery practice.Therefore, improved public education about the scope of plastic surgery is needed.

Demographic and Cultural Differences in the Acceptance and Pursuit of Cosmetic Surgery: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Assessing knowledge more than acceptance of CS, numerous studies have been conducted in countries worldwide evaluating the degree of understanding various cohorts have regarding the breadth of plastic surgery, including studies among healthcare professionals and trainees, and the general public. Across these studies, a general lack of understanding was identified about the full range of surgical procedures plastic surgeons perform (eg, hand and maxillofacial surgery), but also considerable variability between countries, with populations in less-developed and/or financially independent countries like Nigeria, 19 India, 72 Brazil, 73 and Nepal 36 typically less informed than those in more industrialized nations like the United States and South Korea. In several of these studies, lack of understanding was accompanied by reduced acceptance of CS and/or the perception that they, themselves, would not be accepted if they had such surgery.…”

Plastic Surgery: Beware the Candle Burning at Both Ends

“…Although several studies have assessed the general public's knowledge and perception of plastic surgery, no such study has been performed across the entire United States. 5,[12][13][14][15][18][19][20][21][22][23]27 Thus, the goal of this study aimed to fill this gap and assess the scope of plastic surgery as perceived by the general public. The results demonstrate that similar to other countries, the United States has a poor understanding of the scope of plastic surgery.…”

“…Although a few limited studies have been published on perception of plastic surgery in Brazil, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Australia, and New York City, no such data analyzing the perception of plastic surgery across the United States has been published to date. [18][19][20][21][22][23] The objective of this study was to assess the scope of plastic surgery as seen through the eyes of the average American to identify gaps in public knowledge, which need to be addressed to better represent the field as a whole.…”