Plastic and aesthetic surgery among medical students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The wide variety of operations that a plastic surgeon can deal with creates confusion regarding its proper scope. This confusion was observed in primary physicians as well as medical students. Increasing the perception of medical students toward plastic surgery can aid in career decision-making and early referral patterns. The aim of this study is to gauge a holistic overview of how medical students and interns perceive the plastic and aesthetic surgical specialty in King Faisal University and to suggest a recommended plan. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed equally to male and female medical students and interns in a local medical institute. The questionnaire constituted three sections; the first included the biographical data. The second is concerned with the different case scenarios and specialties to be chosen. The third is concerned with the previous clinical exposures. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 21. Between comparison, chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied. Normality tests were conducted using the Shapiro–Wilk’s test. Results: Two hundred ninety-two students and interns have participated and completed the questionnaire. There were 189 males and 103 females. Plastic surgery was most commonly chosen in the following case scenarios; burn of the hand (74%), broken nose (64.7%), and cosmetic nose reshaping (80.8%). However, plastic surgery was infrequently chosen (selected by <30% of students) in many areas of hands and peripheral neuropathies (severed finger extensor tendon (26.4%), fractured scaphoid (12.7%), carpal tunnel syndrome (14.4%), brachial plexus injury (16.1%)). The most common source of information was the social media, and the least one is meeting with doctors and professors. Conclusion: Medical students and interns lack a full view of plastic and reconstructive surgery, especially in hand and peripheral neuropathies. Improving the education of medical students and interns is recommended and needed.

A Systematic Review of the State of Preclinical Mentorship Programs in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

“…10 Similar results were found in a 2021 study where medical students did not associate plastic surgery with hand surgery and peripheral neuropathies. 11 Evidence supporting this hypothesis was published in a 2017 study that found television portrayals significantly influenced medical students' understanding of plastic surgery. 12 All these disparities may be linked to a lack of early exposure in medical school and increased reliance on societal stereotypes in forming perceptions of plastic surgery.…”

“…12 All these disparities may be linked to a lack of early exposure in medical school and increased reliance on societal stereotypes in forming perceptions of plastic surgery. 10–12…”

“…12 All these disparities may be linked to a lack of early exposure in medical school and increased reliance on societal stereotypes in forming perceptions of plastic surgery. [10][11][12] Research suggests that longitudinal mentorship programs can bridge this knowledge gap, leading to a greater percentage of students applying to and matching into surgical subspecialties. A 2019 study conducted at the University of Michigan found that a surgical interest group can successfully build interest in surgical subspecialties; their data demonstrated a nearly 10% increase in the number of applicants applying to surgery in the four years following the foundation of a surgical interest group.…”

Influenced: Exploring the Effect of Social Media on Medical Students’ Perceptions of Plastic Surgery

“…3,4 Medical students specifically have demonstrated a limited understanding of the breadth of plastic surgery. [5][6][7][8] This is largely due to limited exposure to the field throughout medical education, leaving students to draw upon external sources such as social media.…”